It was two months ago that the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as his coach berated him over missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a sign or a cause for Villa's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, however, the sideline response was far more favourable. As the in-form star swept in his second to reclaim Villa's lead, Emery tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win and after failing to win any of their first six matches, now sit just three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard query to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, while the victories have stacked up.
According to Opta, twice all season has the side registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team which has strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look strangely fragile – but currently the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping Rogers to rescue them with two precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened against United.
His opener came from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“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?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United managed more shots and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.
A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing the ball into the top corner week in, week out.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is another reality where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still find their top level.
- The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the force he was in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.
This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.
