A mere 60 days prior when the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery berated him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his performances were a symptom or a cause of the team's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. As Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to restore Villa's lead, Emery discarded his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?
That’s a particularly tough question to resolve. History, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been entirely convincing this season, while the victories have piled up.
According to the data, in only two games has the team registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear curiously susceptible – however currently the margins are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
The current approach appears to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their star man to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened when facing United.
His opener originated from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first as he seized on a pass from Watkins.
“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. Against United, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival Villa will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still find their top level.
- The centre-forward may begin to finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent might become the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to regain fitness, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a vital Three Lions star.
This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the hero positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
