It was two months in the past when the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach admonished him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained if his performances were a symptom or a cause for the team's more general malaise.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, though, the sideline response proved to be decidedly more positive. As the in-form star drilled in his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician ripped off his jacket, threw his arms wide and roared. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves only three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard proposition to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been wholly dominant this season, while the wins have accumulated.
According to Opta, in only two games has the team registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a club which has just won 10 in a row, they seem strangely fragile – but at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for Rogers to bail them out with two crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he pounced 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?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opponents managed more efforts and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival the club will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The winger might become the player he resembled during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
However, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial England player.
The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When the hero stood in front of the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
