A mere eight weeks prior when the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as the Villa manager berated him over missing a through-ball. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were a symptom or the reason for the side's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, though, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. When the England international curled home his second to reclaim his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Serious Challengers?
That’s a rather hard proposition to answer. Past precedent, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.
Per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a team which has strung together 10 in a row, they seem strangely fragile – but right now the fine lines are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to save the day with two crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.
His opener came from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he pounced 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge they must confront in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot keep on thrashing the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists a different scenario in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he showed during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers now would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.
This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. When the hero stood in front of the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
