A mere two months prior when the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as his coach admonished him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his performances were a sign or a cause for the team's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. As Rogers curled home his second to restore Villa's lead, the boss discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win , despite not winning any of their first six matches, find themselves a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. History, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, while the wins have accumulated.
According to Opta, twice all season has the team posted an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a side who have just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the margins are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again against United.
His opener originated from a superb shot, bent right inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge the club must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.
A Case for Belief
Could it be another reality in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward might resume scoring again.
- The winger might become the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.
The current run is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero faced the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
