It was 60 days in the past that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery admonished him for missing a through-ball. Back then, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were an indicator or the reason of the team's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the sideline response proved to be decidedly more positive. After the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery discarded his coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Serious Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough query to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, even as the victories have stacked up.
As per Opta, on just two occasions has the team posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a side that have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for their talisman to rescue them with some precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more when facing United.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, curled just inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced 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. During the latest victory, the opposition managed more shots and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival Villa will encounter in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.
- The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent might become the performer he resembled during his peak.
- The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When Rogers stood in front of the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
