A mere eight weeks ago that the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. During that period, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his displays were a sign or the source of the team's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the sideline response proved to be far more favourable. As the England international drilled in his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, the boss tore off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their opening six matches, find themselves a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s a particularly tough proposition to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding during this run, even as the positive results have accumulated.
Per the data, twice all season has the team had an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club that have put together a ten-match winning streak, they seem curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with two crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more versus the Red Devils.
His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the post from a wide position. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Logic says not. Against United, the opponents managed more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.
Regression to the mean might be the greatest opponent they have to face in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting the ball into the top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he was during his peak.
- The defensive duo are set to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the North End after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and should be relished.
