It was eight weeks prior that the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or the source of the team'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 sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. When the England international swept in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row , after failing to win any of their first six matches, are somehow a mere three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Challengers?
It remains a rather hard question to resolve. History, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, even as the wins have accumulated.
As per Opta, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team which has just won ten consecutive victories, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – but right now the margins are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic looks like to trade blows with an opponent before hoping Rogers to rescue them with two crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again when facing United.
His opener came from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Is It Sustainable?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more efforts and more shots on target. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those games.
A reversion to average could be the biggest rival they will encounter as the season progresses. Rogers, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting the ball into the top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Could it be another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The winger could transform into the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as a vital player for the national team.
This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. As Rogers stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.
