It was two months ago when the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as his coach admonished him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether Rogers' form were a sign or the source of the side's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. When Rogers curled home his second to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their opening six fixtures, are somehow only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?
This is a rather hard proposition to resolve. History, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been wholly dominant in many games, even as the positive results have stacked up.
Per the data, in only two games has the side posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a side who have strung together 10 in a row, they look strangely fragile – but at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to save the day with two precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.
The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one capitalizing 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. During the latest victory, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge they have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot keep on blasting the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still find their top level.
- The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he showed in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
This could contain the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital England player.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.
