Morgan Rogers Shines as Aston Villa Climb to Third in Premier League
Morgan Rogers is currently in a golden scoring spell for Aston Villa, playing a significant role in the club's impressive 10-match winning run in the Premier League. As of Christmas, Villa sit third in the table, just three points behind leaders Arsenal, having overcome a difficult early season to string together a series of victories.
Despite their strong results, Villa's underlying metrics suggest limited dominance. Opta data reveals the team has rarely led by more than 0.5 in expected goals (xG) during matches this season, indicating tight contests rather than clear control.
Rogers's recent performances include a standout display against Manchester United, where he scored twice. His first goal came from inside the post after a setup involving John McGinn, while his second was a deflected effort following a lay-off from Ollie Watkins, which beat goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Unai Emery's celebration of Rogers's second goal was notably volcanic, especially in light of earlier criticism the manager had directed at the player after a setback against Sunderland.
Rogers has also been part of England's national team discussions. He was brought on as a substitute for Jude Bellingham in a World Cup qualifier against Serbia and has been considered for a World Cup squad spot ahead of other contenders such as Phil Foden and Harvey Palmer, reflecting his current form.
However, there is caution about Villa relying solely on Rogers to sustain their run, acknowledging the possibility of regression to the mean and emphasizing the need for contributions across the team. Remarkably, just two months prior, doubts existed about Rogers playing a central role in a title challenge, making his rise to a key contributor to Villa’s surge particularly surprising.
