It was 60 days ago when the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach berated him for not reading a through-ball. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were a symptom or the reason of the team's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction was entirely far more favourable. When the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, Emery discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win any of their first six matches, are somehow a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Challengers?
It remains a rather hard question to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, while the victories have accumulated.
Per Opta, twice all season has the team posted an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a side which has strung together 10 in a row, they look strangely fragile – but currently the fine lines are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping their talisman to save the day with some clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal originated from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of goal number one 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.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents registered more shots and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent the club must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be an alternative path in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.
- The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as an essential England player.
The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner stood in front of the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
