🔗 Share this article

A mere 60 days in the past when the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a through-ball. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if his displays were a symptom or a cause for Villa's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. When the in-form star curled home his second strike to reclaim his side's advantage, the boss discarded his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six matches, now sit only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?

That’s an exceptionally difficult query to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been wholly dominant in many games, while the wins have stacked up.

Per the data, on just two occasions have Villa registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a club who have just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans look curiously susceptible – yet right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to save the day with some precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again when facing United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

“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?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.

A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is an alternative path where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker might resume scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.

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

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a title charge and appearing as a crucial England player.

The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the Villa faithful when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.