It was 60 days ago when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery scolded him for missing a through-ball. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were an indicator or the reason of the side's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst was far more favourable. When the England international curled home his second to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win , despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
That’s a rather hard question to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.
As per the data, on just two occasions have Villa had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a side who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem strangely fragile – however currently the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for Rogers to save the day with two precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more versus Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal originated from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opponents managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those games.
A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge they must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, will not continue to drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Could it be an alternative path whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward could start adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho might become the force he showed in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are due to regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the young forward now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential England player.
This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
