It was two months in the past that the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager admonished him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were an indicator or the reason of Villa's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, though, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. When Rogers swept in his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?
That’s a rather hard query to resolve. History, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding in many games, even as the wins have piled up.
Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a side who have just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem strangely fragile – yet right now the margins are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for Rogers to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened against Manchester United.
His opener stemmed from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“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.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opponents registered more shots and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.
A statistical correction might be the biggest rival Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be another reality in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he showed during his peak.
- The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.
This could contain the potential of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods are rare in football and should be relished.
