A mere 60 days in the past when the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as his coach scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his displays were a sign or the source of the side's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, though, the sideline response was much more joyous. As Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win , after failing to win their opening six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Serious Challengers?
That’s a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, while the victories have stacked up.
According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side had an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a club who have just won 10 in a row, they look curiously susceptible – however at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for Rogers to save the day with two crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again against United.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge the club must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is a different scenario where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins could start adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho might become the force he showed in Germany.
- The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a periodically leaky defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.
The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.
