🔗 Share this article

Just 60 days ago when the Villa attacker was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager berated him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as the club went six without a win, the question was if his displays were a symptom or a cause of the team's wider issues.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction proved to be much more joyous. After the England international curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, are somehow only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to resolve. History, a general sense of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, they've rarely been entirely convincing this season, even as the wins have stacked up.

According to Opta, twice all season has the team registered an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club who have put together 10 in a row, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – but right now the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened against Manchester United.

The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, arced precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he seized 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.”

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, Manchester United had more efforts and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival they must confront in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent could transform into the player he was in Germany.
• The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a title charge while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.