A mere two months prior when the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as his coach scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a sign or the source of Villa's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. When the in-form star drilled in his second to restore the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Serious Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard query to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.
According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a side which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem curiously susceptible – but at the moment the margins are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for Rogers to rescue them with two clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the upright from a wide position. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first 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?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed more efforts and more shots on target. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean might be the biggest rival they have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on blasting the football into the top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists another reality where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet return to peak condition.
- The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
But then, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would sit third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital England player.
The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When Rogers faced the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and should be relished.
