It was two months ago when the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while his coach berated him for not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or the source for 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 sideline response proved to be far more favourable. When the in-form star curled home his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?
It remains an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. History, the traditional standing of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, even as the wins have piled up.
As per the data, on just two occasions has the side registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a club that have put together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem curiously susceptible – yet currently the margins are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for Rogers to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened versus United.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slight scruffier version of goal number one capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opposition had more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those matches.
A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge they have to face as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling his shots into the net's top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still return to peak condition.
- The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent could transform into the performer he resembled in Germany.
- The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned Rogers now would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital player for the national team.
This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. When Rogers positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
