Just two months in the past that the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while Unai Emery scolded him over missing a pass in behind. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained if his performances were a sign or a cause for the side's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, however, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. As Rogers drilled in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and roared. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their opening six fixtures, now sit a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Challengers?
That’s a particularly tough question to answer. History, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, even as the victories have piled up.
As per Opta, on just two occasions has the side registered an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a club which has put together 10 in a row, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – however currently the margins are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their star man to rescue them with a couple of clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more when facing United.
Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opponents had more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean might be the most significant challenge they must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists another reality where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent might become the player he was during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.
The current run is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
