It was 60 days in the past that Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while his coach scolded him over not reading a through-ball. At that point, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or the source for the team's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. After the in-form star swept in his second to reclaim his side's advantage, Emery tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
This is a rather hard query to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, while the victories have piled up.
According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa had an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a side who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they appear weirdly vulnerable – but right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with an opponent and wait for Rogers to rescue them with two clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened when facing Manchester United.
His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United managed more shots and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.
A reversion to average might be the most significant challenge Villa have to face as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he showed during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.
Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as an essential England player.
The current run is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
