A mere eight weeks prior that Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while his coach admonished him over not reading a pass in behind. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, the question was whether Rogers' form were a symptom or a cause of the side's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star drilled in his second to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, are somehow only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Serious Hopefuls?
That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, while the wins have accumulated.
According to the data, on just two occasions have Villa had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club that have put together 10 in a row, the Villans appear strangely fragile – however right now the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for their talisman to save the day with two precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more when facing United.
Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, bent just inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more efforts and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be an alternative path whereby, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- The attacking talent could transform into the player he was in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the midfielder now would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like an essential player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
