A mere eight weeks prior that the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery admonished him for missing a through-ball. At that point, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or the reason of the team's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. After the in-form star curled home his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their opening six matches, are somehow just three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Challengers?
That’s a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.
As per Opta, on just two occasions has the side posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team which has just won ten consecutive victories, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the margins are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic looks like to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more versus Manchester United.
His opener came from an exquisite effort, bent right inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica 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.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opponents managed more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those matches.
Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent the club must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, will not continue to blasting his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The winger may rediscover the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.
This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. As Rogers faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
