Just 60 days ago when the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager scolded him over missing a pass in behind. Back then, with the team went six without a win, the question was if Rogers' form were a sign or the source for Villa's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, though, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. When Rogers swept in his second to reinstate his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his coat, opened his arms and roared. The team continued to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their opening six matches, are somehow a mere three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Serious Challengers?
That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to resolve. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.
Per Opta, on just two occasions has the side posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club who have put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem curiously susceptible – yet currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their star man to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, curled right inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of goal number one capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition registered more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.
A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge they must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, will not continue to thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent might become the player he showed during his peak.
- The defensive duo are due to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought Rogers now would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.
The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
