Just two months in the past that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager berated him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was whether Rogers' form were a sign or a cause of the team's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely much more joyous. After the in-form star swept in his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery discarded his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, now sit just three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
This is a particularly tough question to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, while the positive results have stacked up.
As per statistical analysis, in only two games has the side had an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a team that have just won 10 in a row, the Villans seem strangely fragile – yet at the moment the margins are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to save the day with two crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired in London, and it happened versus the Red Devils.
His opener came from a superb shot, bent just inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent the club have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting the football into the top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Could it be another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital player for the national team.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. As the hero stood in front of the North End after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.
