Just eight weeks ago that the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom or a cause of Villa's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. As Rogers curled home his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa continued to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Challengers?
It remains a rather hard question to address. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing in many games, even as the positive results have piled up.
According to Opta, twice all season have Villa registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a team that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping their star man to save the day with two clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.
The initial strike originated from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he pounced 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Logic says not. Against United, Manchester United had more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.
A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing the football into the net's top corner forever.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is a different scenario where, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
- The winger could transform into the player he showed during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
This could contain the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as a crucial Three Lions star.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
