A mere 60 days prior that the young forward found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager berated him over missing a through-ball. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if his performances were a sign or a cause for Villa's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. When the in-form star drilled in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?
That’s an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, even as the victories have stacked up.
As per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa had an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a club which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear strangely fragile – yet at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach looks like to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for Rogers to bail them out with some precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened when facing Manchester United.
His opener originated from an exquisite effort, arced precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, Manchester United managed more shots and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent the club have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be another reality where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.
- The main striker could start scoring again.
- The winger might become the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.
This could contain the potential of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial England player.
The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.
