It was two months ago when Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as his coach berated him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were a sign or the source for the side's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. After Rogers drilled in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?
This is a particularly tough proposition to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, while the positive results have piled up.
Per Opta, in only two games has the team had an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a side which has strung together ten consecutive victories, they appear strangely fragile – but right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with the opposition before hoping Rogers to rescue them with some precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened versus Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition managed more efforts 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 games.
A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent the club must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward could start adding to his goal tally.
- The winger might become the performer he showed during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.
This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential England player.
This remarkable period is to be savoured for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero faced the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.
