Just two months in the past when the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while Unai Emery berated him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether his performances were a symptom 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.”
This weekend, though, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. After the in-form star drilled in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their opening six fixtures, now sit just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?
This is a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been wholly dominant during this run, while the wins have accumulated.
As per Opta, in only two games have Villa posted an xG notably superior than the other team. For a side that have strung together 10 in a row, Villa look curiously susceptible – yet currently the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach looks like to engage in a shootout with rivals and then rely on their star man to rescue them with some precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened against United.
His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the post from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Is It Sustainable?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent they have to face in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is an alternative path where, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.
- The centre-forward might resume scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he was in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital England player.
This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.
