It was two months prior when the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as his coach admonished him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a symptom or the source for Villa's more general malaise.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. After Rogers swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his coat, spread his arms and roared. The team marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win any of their first six games, are somehow a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Challengers?
This is a rather hard query to address. History, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, while the victories have accumulated.
According to the data, in only two games have Villa registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a side which has put together 10 in a row, they seem weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their talisman to rescue them with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it happened in London, and once more against the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the upright from a wide position. For his second acted as a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he seized 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival Villa will encounter in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the player he showed during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, few could imagine Rogers now would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.
This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the match-winner faced the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
