A mere two months prior when the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while Unai Emery scolded him over missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a sign or a cause for Villa's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, however, the sideline response proved to be decidedly more positive. After the England international curled home his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win , despite not winning any of their first six matches, find themselves only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Challengers?
It remains a particularly tough query to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, even as the victories have stacked up.
As per the data, in only two games has the side had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club that have just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach appears to be to trade blows with rivals and wait for Rogers to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again when facing United.
Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“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. Against United, the opposition managed more shots and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.
Regression to the mean might be the biggest rival the club must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling the ball into the net's top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho might become the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defence.
This could contain the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed Villa would sit third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital player for the national team.
The current run must be cherished exactly since it appears so improbable. When the hero stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.
