A mere 60 days in the past that the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager scolded him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or the source for the side's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, though, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star curled home his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit just three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Challengers?
It remains a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing in many games, even as the positive results have accumulated.
Per the data, in only two games has the team had an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a club that have strung together 10 in a row, they look curiously susceptible – yet right now the margins are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for their star man to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened versus the Red Devils.
His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the post from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“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?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition registered more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.
A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on thrashing his shots into the net's top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still return to peak condition.
- The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the force he was in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder now would be leading a title charge while looking like a crucial England player.
The current run is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. When the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
