A mere 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while his coach admonished him over not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a sign or the source of Villa's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. After the in-form star drilled in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his jacket, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, are somehow only three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough query to resolve. History, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.
As per statistical analysis, twice all season has the team registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a club which has just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their star man to save the day with some clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again versus United.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Can It Last?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opposition had more efforts and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.
A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent they must confront as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is another reality whereby, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.
- The centre-forward might resume adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho might become the performer he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would be third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder now would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
