It was eight weeks ago that the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach berated him over missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if his performances were a symptom or the reason for the team's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, however, the sideline response was entirely much more joyous. As Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, Emery tore off his coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win any of their first six matches, now sit just three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Hopefuls?
That’s an exceptionally difficult question to address. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, their performances haven't been wholly dominant in many games, while the wins have accumulated.
Per the data, in only two games have Villa posted an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a team who have put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem curiously susceptible – however at the moment the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for their star man to rescue them with two crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of goal number one capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition managed more shots and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter as the season progresses. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling his shots into the top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists another reality in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent could transform into the player he was during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.
This could contain the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial England player.
This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As the match-winner faced the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
