🔗 Share this article

It was two months ago when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while his coach berated him over missing a through-ball. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a sign or the source for the team's broader struggles.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

In the latest match, however, the sideline response was far more favourable. After Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?

It remains an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. History, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

As per the data, on just two occasions has the team posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club which has just won ten consecutive victories, Villa seem strangely fragile – yet currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for Rogers to bail them out with some precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opponents managed more shots 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 could be the greatest opponent Villa must confront in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the net's top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• The winger might become the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. As the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.