It was eight weeks ago that the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager berated him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were an indicator or the reason for the side's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. After the in-form star swept in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and roared. The team continued to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, find themselves just three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Serious Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard query to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, while the victories have stacked up.
As per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club that have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans appear strangely fragile – but currently the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach looks like to exchange chances with rivals before hoping Rogers to bail them out with some precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it occurred in London, and again versus United.
The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of goal number one capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Is It Sustainable?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition had more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent Villa have to face in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Could it be another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a vital Three Lions star.
The current run should be enjoyed exactly since it appears so improbable. When Rogers stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
