Just 60 days in the past when the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as his coach admonished him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason of Villa's more general malaise.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
In the latest match, however, the sideline response was far more favourable. As the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Challengers?
This is a particularly tough query to resolve. History, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, while the positive results have piled up.
Per Opta, in only two games has the team posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club that have just won 10 in a row, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – but at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic looks like to engage in a shootout with rivals and then rely on their star man to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened when facing Manchester United.
His opener originated from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents registered more efforts and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent the club must confront as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
- The winger might become the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be leading a title charge and appearing as a crucial England player.
This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
