Just eight weeks prior when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager berated him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was whether his performances were a symptom or a cause for Villa's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. When Rogers swept in his second to reclaim his side's advantage, Emery discarded his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team continued to ten wins in a row and after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Serious Hopefuls?
It remains an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. Past precedent, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding in many games, while the positive results have piled up.
According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa posted an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side who have strung together ten consecutive victories, they look strangely fragile – but right now the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their star man to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again against the Red Devils.
His opener came from a superb shot, arced right inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on a pass from Watkins.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition had more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all except one of those matches.
A statistical correction might be the biggest rival they have to face in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain thrashing the ball into the top corner indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Could it be an alternative path in which, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent might become the performer he showed in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder now would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital England player.
This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.
