A mere eight weeks prior when the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as Unai Emery admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or the source 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, however, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. When the England international swept in his second to restore Villa's lead, the boss discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, are somehow a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
It remains an exceptionally difficult proposition to answer. History, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, while the wins have accumulated.
Per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa registered an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a team that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they seem weirdly vulnerable – but currently the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on their star man to rescue them with two precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, arced just inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition had more efforts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.
A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival Villa have to face in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on thrashing the football into the top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Could it be a different scenario in which, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent could transform into the player he was during his peak.
- The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.
This could contain the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward now would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
