It was 60 days prior when the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while his coach berated him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. At that point, as the club went six without a win, the question was whether his displays were a symptom or the reason of the side's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, though, the sideline response was decidedly more positive. As Rogers curled home his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves just three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.
Per Opta, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a side who have just won 10 in a row, Villa seem strangely fragile – yet right now the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to save the day with some precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it transpired in London, and again versus Manchester United.
His opener originated from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.
A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be another reality in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet find their top level.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- The winger may rediscover the player he was in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to regain fitness, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers now would be leading a hunt for the title while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.
The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the match-winner faced the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
