A mere eight weeks prior when the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or a cause of Villa'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 sideline response proved to be far more favourable. As the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss discarded his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to a 10th successive win and after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Serious Hopefuls?
It remains a particularly tough query to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the victories have piled up.
Per the data, on just two occasions has the team had an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a team who have just won 10 in a row, Villa seem curiously susceptible – yet right now the margins are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their star man to save the day with two crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened against United.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.
Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival they must confront as the season progresses. Rogers, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists another reality where, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures might still find their top level.
- The main striker could start scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he showed in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to regain fitness, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on one man.
Savoring the Moment
However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital player for the national team.
This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. When Rogers stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and should be relished.
