A mere 60 days ago when the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach berated him for missing a pass in behind. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was if Rogers' form were an indicator or the source for the team's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the sideline response was entirely much more joyous. As the England international swept in his second to restore Villa's lead, Emery discarded his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their opening six matches, now sit just three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Serious Challengers?
That’s a rather hard question to resolve. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.
As per the data, twice all season have Villa registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a club who have strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem strangely fragile – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with rivals before hoping their star man to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.
His opener originated from a superb shot, bent right inside the upright from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of his first as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United managed more efforts and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge Villa must confront as the season progresses. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is another reality in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned Rogers now would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.
The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero faced the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.
