Just two months in the past that the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or the reason for the side's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. When the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and roared. The team continued to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six games, find themselves a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?
It remains a particularly tough proposition to answer. History, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, while the positive results have piled up.
As per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a team who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they seem strangely fragile – but currently the margins are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to trade blows with the opposition before hoping their star man to save the day with some clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more against Manchester United.
His opener stemmed from a superb shot, arced just inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opposition managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those games.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho might become the performer he showed during his peak.
- The defensive duo are set to return from injury, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defence.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like an essential Three Lions star.
This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. As the hero faced the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
