It was 60 days prior when the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager scolded him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his performances were an indicator or a cause of Villa's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. After the England international drilled in his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves only three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is a rather hard proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, even as the wins have accumulated.
As per Opta, in only two games has the team posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club who have put together a ten-match winning streak, they appear curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
The current approach appears to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with two crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, bent right inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“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 registered more efforts and more shots on target. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
Regression to the mean might be the greatest opponent they will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be an alternative path whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward could start adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential player for the national team.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. As Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
