Just 60 days prior when the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as the Villa manager admonished him for not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a symptom or a cause of Villa's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, though, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. After the in-form star curled home his second to restore the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, now sit a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?
That’s a rather hard query to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.
As per the data, in only two games has the team had an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a team that have just won a ten-match winning streak, they appear weirdly vulnerable – but right now the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for their star man to save the day with two precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again against Manchester United.
The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the post from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced 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?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean might be the biggest rival Villa have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, will not continue to blasting the football into the top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward may begin to finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the force he was in Germany.
- The defensive duo are due to return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on one man.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential England player.
This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. When Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
