Just 60 days prior that the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager scolded him for not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom or the reason 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, though, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. After the England international drilled in his brace-sealing goal to restore Villa's lead, Emery tore off his jacket, opened his arms and roared. Villa continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win any of their first six matches, now sit a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
That’s a rather hard query to address. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing this season, even as the victories have stacked up.
According to statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – but currently the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for their talisman to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired in London, and again when facing United.
His opener originated from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the post from a wide position. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener 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?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opposition had more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent they will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists an alternative path where, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet find their top level.
- The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable the team would be third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be leading a title charge and appearing as a vital player for the national team.
This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.
