It was eight weeks prior that Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a sign or the source of the team's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst was far more favourable. As the England international drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
It remains a rather hard query to answer. History, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the wins have piled up.
As per Opta, in only two games has the team had an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club that have just won a ten-match winning streak, they appear curiously susceptible – however right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for Rogers to save the day with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened versus Manchester United.
The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.
A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent they will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling the ball into the top corner week in, week out.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is another reality where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he was during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.
This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, few could imagine Rogers now would be leading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial England player.
This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. When the hero stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
