Just eight weeks in the past that Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager admonished him for missing a through-ball. During that period, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his performances were a sign or the reason for Villa's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, though, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. As the England international curled home his second strike to reclaim his side's advantage, the boss tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Serious Challengers?
It remains a rather hard question to resolve. History, a general sense of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, their performances haven't been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the victories have piled up.
As per statistical analysis, in only two games have Villa registered an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club who have just won ten consecutive victories, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their star man to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened against Manchester United.
The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the post from a wide position. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those games.
A statistical correction could be the biggest rival the club will encounter in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot maintain thrashing the football into the net's top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures might still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
- The winger may rediscover the player he showed in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would sit third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial England player.
This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.
