It was eight weeks prior when the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager berated him for missing a through-ball. During that period, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason of the team's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. When the in-form star swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, are somehow a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Challengers?
It remains a rather hard query to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, argues against it. Moreover, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, even as the wins have piled up.
Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a team who have just won 10 in a row, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – yet currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for Rogers to rescue them with some precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more against Manchester United.
His opener originated from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he seized on a pass from Watkins.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival Villa have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, surely, will not continue to thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
- The winger might become the force he was in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.
This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
