A mere 60 days prior that the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager scolded him over not reading a through-ball. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether his displays were a symptom 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, though, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. When Rogers curled home his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a 10th successive win , after failing to win any of their first six matches, now sit only three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard query to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, even as the positive results have accumulated.
As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side had an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they look strangely fragile – however right now the margins are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to trade blows with an opponent before hoping Rogers to rescue them with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.
His opener stemmed from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”
Is It Sustainable?
Logic says not. Against United, the opposition had more shots and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.
A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.
This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.
The current run is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. When Rogers stood in front of the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
