It was 60 days in the past when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were a sign or the reason 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, however, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. As the England international drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a tenth straight victory and despite not winning their opening six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Serious Challengers?
That’s a rather hard query to resolve. History, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Moreover, their performances haven't been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.
Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team that have put together ten consecutive victories, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the margins are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for Rogers to rescue them with some clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, bent right inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“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 managed more efforts and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.
A reversion to average might be the biggest rival Villa have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still find their top level.
- The centre-forward could start adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Savoring the Moment
However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be leading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.
