A mere 60 days prior that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager scolded him over missing a through-ball. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were a sign or the source of the side's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the sideline response was much more joyous. As the in-form star drilled in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the boss tore off his winter coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win , after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow a mere three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Serious Challengers?
That’s a particularly tough proposition to resolve. History, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, even as the positive results have stacked up.
As per statistical analysis, twice all season has the team posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team which has put together ten consecutive victories, they look weirdly vulnerable – but right now the margins are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent before hoping their talisman to save the day with two crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.
His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.
Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge the club will encounter in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Could it be another reality whereby, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he resembled during his peak.
- The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on one man.
Savoring the Moment
However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward now would be leading a title charge while looking like a vital player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
