Just two months in the past that the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as his coach scolded him over missing a through-ball. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or the source for the team's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, though, the sideline response was entirely far more favourable. After the in-form star drilled in his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the boss discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa continued to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win their opening six games, find themselves a mere three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Hopefuls?
This is a rather hard proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, while the victories have accumulated.
Per the data, twice all season has the side registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club which has strung together ten consecutive victories, they appear strangely fragile – however at the moment the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach seems to be to trade blows with the opposition before hoping their talisman to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more when facing Manchester United.
The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized on a pass from Watkins.
“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. During the latest victory, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent they have to face as the season progresses. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the top corner forever.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.
- The main striker might resume scoring again.
- The winger might become the performer he was in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would be third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like an essential player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it appears so improbable. When Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
