Just 60 days prior when the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his performances were an indicator or the source of the side's more general malaise.
“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 manager's outburst was entirely much more joyous. When the in-form star drilled in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, now sit a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Challengers?
This is a particularly tough question to answer. History, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, even as the wins have accumulated.
Per the data, twice all season have Villa posted an xG notably superior than the other team. For a club that have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – yet right now the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with some crisp finishes. It happened at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.
The initial strike originated from a superb shot, curled just inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“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. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.
A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge Villa must confront in the near future. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the net's top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is an alternative path where, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still find their top level.
- The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward now would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial England player.
This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
