A mere eight weeks in the past that the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as his coach admonished him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a symptom or the source for Villa'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 touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win and after failing to win any of their first six matches, are somehow only three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard proposition to resolve. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the wins have piled up.
As per Opta, in only two games has the team registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a side who have put together 10 in a row, Villa look curiously susceptible – however currently the margins are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for their star man to save the day with two crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.
The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, arced precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of goal number one capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. Against United, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all except one of those games.
Regression to the mean might be the biggest rival they must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot maintain thrashing his shots into the net's top corner forever.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.
- The centre-forward could start scoring again.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the player he was during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable the team would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought the young forward now would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital player for the national team.
The current run is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. When the match-winner stood in front of the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
