A mere 60 days prior that the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as the Villa manager admonished him for not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained if his displays were an indicator or the reason for Villa's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, though, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. After the in-form star drilled in his second to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and roared. The team marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their opening six matches, find themselves just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?
That’s a rather hard proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.
Per statistical analysis, twice all season has the side posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team that have just won ten consecutive victories, they look weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the margins are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping their talisman to save the day with some precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened when facing United.
Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, arced precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opponents registered more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge Villa have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing the football into the top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is an alternative path where, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.
- The main striker could start scoring again.
- The attacking talent could transform into the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.
This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, nobody thought the midfielder now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial England player.
This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. As the match-winner stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
