Just eight weeks ago that the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him for not reading a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause of the team's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, however, the manager's outburst was entirely much more joyous. When the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim his side's advantage, Emery discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , after failing to win any of their first six matches, now sit only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding this season, even as the positive results have accumulated.
Per the data, twice all season has the side registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a side who have put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear curiously susceptible – yet currently the margins are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and then rely on their star man to rescue them with some precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it transpired in London, and it happened against Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition registered more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.
A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival the club will encounter in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Could it be another reality in which, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
- The winger may rediscover the force he showed during his peak.
- The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial Three Lions star.
This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero faced the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.
