A mere eight weeks ago that the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach scolded him for not reading a through-ball. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for the side's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. When Rogers drilled in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their opening six matches, are somehow just three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the wins have piled up.
As per the data, in only two games has the team posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team who have put together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear curiously susceptible – yet right now the margins are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping their talisman to rescue them with some precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more versus the Red Devils.
The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.
A reversion to average might be the most significant challenge they must confront in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
- The winger could transform into the player he was in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner faced the North End after the match conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
