A mere two months ago when the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager admonished him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for the side's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely much more joyous. As the in-form star curled home his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six fixtures, now sit only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?
That’s a rather hard proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, while the victories have accumulated.
As per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa had an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a team who have strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans appear strangely fragile – but currently the margins are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach appears to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to save the day with some crisp finishes. It happened at Leeds, it happened in London, and again versus United.
The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the post from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. Villa have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.
Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge Villa have to face in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Potential for Growth
Could it be another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward now would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.
This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. When the match-winner faced the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.
