A mere eight weeks prior that the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager admonished him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or a cause for the team's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. As the England international drilled in his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?
This is an exceptionally difficult question to answer. History, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the victories have piled up.
As per Opta, twice all season has the side had an xG notably superior than the other team. For a team which has just won ten consecutive victories, they appear curiously susceptible – but right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more against Manchester United.
The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, arced precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition registered more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those games.
Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, will not continue to drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
- The winger could transform into the force he showed during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the possibility of a title challenge, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly earlier this season, few could imagine the midfielder now would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. As Rogers faced the North End after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.
