Just eight weeks in the past when the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach berated him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his displays were a sign or the reason for Villa's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, though, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. After the England international drilled in his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, the boss tore off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. The team marched on to a 10th successive win and after failing to win their opening six matches, find themselves just three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?
That’s a rather hard question to address. History, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing during this run, even as the victories have piled up.
Per the data, on just two occasions has the team had an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a team which has strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – but right now the margins are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach appears to be to trade blows with an opponent before hoping their star man to bail them out with two clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened versus the Red Devils.
His opener originated from a superb shot, bent right inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one 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.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition managed more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.
A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent the club must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing his shots into the top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Could it be an alternative path whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still rediscover their best form.
- The main striker could start scoring again.
- The winger might become the player he was in Germany.
- The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.
This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.
