It was eight weeks ago that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager berated him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his displays were a sign or a cause of the side's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. As the in-form star drilled in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning any of their first six games, are somehow just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Challengers?
This is a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, while the positive results have accumulated.
As per Opta, in only two games has the team posted an xG notably superior than the other team. For a side that have strung together ten consecutive victories, they look strangely fragile – however currently the margins are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for Rogers to save the day with two crisp finishes. It happened at Leeds, it happened in London, and again against the Red Devils.
His opener stemmed from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents managed more shots and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge the club have to face in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Could it be a different scenario in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures could still return to peak condition.
- The main striker might resume finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho might become the player he resembled during his peak.
- The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And most definitely back in October, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.
This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner faced the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.
