It was 60 days in the past when the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as his coach berated him for not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained if his performances were a sign or a cause of the side's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the sideline response was far more favourable. After the England international swept in his second to reclaim his side's advantage, Emery ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding during this run, even as the positive results have accumulated.
According to the data, on just two occasions has the team posted an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a team who have just won a ten-match winning streak, they seem weirdly vulnerable – but currently the fine lines are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for Rogers to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again against the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he seized 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.”
Can It Last?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition registered 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 all but one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge they will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, surely, cannot keep on thrashing the football into the top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still find their top level.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho might become the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are set to return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine Rogers now would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.
This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.
