Just eight weeks prior when Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as his coach scolded him for missing a pass in behind. During that period, with the team failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom or a cause of the side's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, though, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. After the in-form star drilled in his second to restore Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a 10th successive win and having failed to win any of their first six matches, find themselves just three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?
It remains an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. History, the traditional standing of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the wins have stacked up.
According to the data, in only two games have Villa registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team which has just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem strangely fragile – yet currently the margins are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for their talisman to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized 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?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival Villa have to face in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists a different scenario in which, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho might become the force he showed in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.
This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
