A mere two months ago that the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while Unai Emery berated him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his displays were a sign or the reason of the side's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. As Rogers curled home his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their opening six matches, are somehow only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?
That’s a particularly tough query to address. History, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the wins have stacked up.
According to the data, on just two occasions have Villa had an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a side who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look strangely fragile – but right now the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping Rogers to bail them out with some precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.
His opener originated from a superb shot, bent right inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Can It Last?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United had more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent they have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still find their top level.
- The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent might become the player he resembled during his peak.
- The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, few could imagine Rogers now would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a vital player for the national team.
The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. When Rogers positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
