A mere eight weeks ago that the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as Unai Emery admonished him over not reading a through-ball. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his displays were a symptom or the reason for Villa'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 was entirely decidedly more positive. As the in-form star drilled in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their opening six games, now sit a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?
That’s a particularly tough proposition to answer. Past precedent, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing this season, while the wins have accumulated.
According to the data, twice all season have Villa registered an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a side which has put together a ten-match winning streak, they look curiously susceptible – however right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to save the day with some precise efforts. It happened at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again against United.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, bent right inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Is It Sustainable?
Logic says not. Against United, the opposition managed more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those games.
A statistical correction could be the biggest rival Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, will not continue to thrashing his shots into the net's top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would be third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital England player.
This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. When Rogers positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
