Just two months ago that the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach scolded him for missing a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was if his displays were a symptom or the reason of the team's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. After the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their opening six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
It remains a rather hard query to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of the club, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant this season, while the positive results have accumulated.
As per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa had an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a club who have just won a ten-match winning streak, they look weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their star man to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more when facing United.
His opener originated from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slight scruffier version of the opener as he pounced 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. Against United, Manchester United had more shots and more shots on target. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.
A statistical correction might be the biggest rival Villa must confront in the near future. The forward, surely, will not continue to blasting his shots into the top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent could transform into the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential England player.
This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the hero faced the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
