It was eight weeks in the past that the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while the Villa manager scolded him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was whether his displays were a sign or the reason of the side's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, however, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. As the England international curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six games, are somehow only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Challengers?
This is a particularly tough question to answer. Past precedent, the perceived status of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding in many games, even as the wins have piled up.
As per the data, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – but currently the fine lines are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with two crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it happened in London, and again when facing Manchester United.
The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition had more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.
Regression to the mean might be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing his shots into the top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Could it be another reality where, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent could transform into the force he was in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like a vital player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
