A mere two months ago that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him over not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his performances were a sign or the reason for the side's more general malaise.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. As Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit only three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough proposition to resolve. History, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, even as the wins have piled up.
Per the data, twice all season has the side registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a side which has just won a ten-match winning streak, they appear weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with some clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it transpired in London, and again against the Red Devils.
The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the post from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing 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?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average might be the biggest rival the club have to face in the near future. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is another reality in which, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The winger could transform into the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.
This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When the hero stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and should be relished.
