It was eight weeks in the past that the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery admonished him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether his performances were an indicator or the source of Villa's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to a 10th successive win , after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Challengers?
This is an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, argues against it. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing in many games, even as the wins have stacked up.
As per statistical analysis, in only two games has the team registered an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a team who have just won a ten-match winning streak, they appear strangely fragile – but right now the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with some clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more against United.
Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“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?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents managed more shots and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.
A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling the ball into the net's top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.
- The main striker might resume scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.
The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
