A mere two months ago when the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery berated him over missing a through-ball. During that period, with the team failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were a sign or the source of Villa's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, though, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. When the in-form star curled home his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their opening six matches, are somehow only three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Challengers?
It remains a rather hard proposition to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.
As per Opta, on just two occasions has the side registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side that have put together a ten-match winning streak, they seem weirdly vulnerable – however currently the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping their star man to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened versus the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the upright from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“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?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opponents had more efforts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival Villa have to face as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the football into the top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be a different scenario whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet find their top level.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the player he resembled in Germany.
- The defensive duo are due to return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward now would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As the match-winner faced the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.
