A mere two months in the past when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery admonished him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team went six without a win, the question was if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason of Villa's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. When the in-form star swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, now sit only three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Serious Hopefuls?
This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing this season, while the victories have piled up.
As per the data, twice all season has the team had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side that have just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – however at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping Rogers to save the day with a couple of crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened when facing Manchester United.
The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of goal number one capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.
“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. During the latest victory, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.
A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge the club will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot keep on thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.
- The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent could transform into the performer he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are set to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
However, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would be third at Christmas. And certainly earlier this season, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as an essential England player.
This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
