It was 60 days prior that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery scolded him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his performances were a sign or the reason for the team's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. As Rogers curled home his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, the boss discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough proposition to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, even as the wins have stacked up.
Per Opta, twice all season has the team had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team who have just won 10 in a row, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – however currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for their talisman to bail them out with two crisp finishes. It happened at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more against United.
Rogers' first goal originated from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“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?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents registered more shots and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.
A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent the club must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still find their top level.
- The main striker could start scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho might become the performer he was in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the possibility of a title challenge, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like a vital Three Lions star.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
