A mere two months ago when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while Unai Emery berated him over missing a pass in behind. Back then, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for Villa's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. When Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row and having failed to win any of their first six games, now sit just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
It remains a particularly tough question to answer. History, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the wins have piled up.
Per the data, in only two games has the side posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team who have put together 10 in a row, Villa appear strangely fragile – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their talisman to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more when facing Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal originated from a superb shot, arced right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be 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?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival they have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists another reality where, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.
- The main striker might resume finding the net regularly.
- The winger could transform into the player he was during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.
This could contain the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a vital England player.
This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. As Rogers faced the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
