It was eight weeks prior that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as his coach admonished him for not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the source of the side's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, however, the sideline response was entirely far more favourable. When the in-form star curled home his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win their opening six games, are somehow only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
That’s a rather hard proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, while the wins have stacked up.
According to Opta, twice all season have Villa had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they appear strangely fragile – but currently the fine lines are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping their star man to save the day with some clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again when facing Manchester United.
The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, bent right inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized 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. Against United, the opponents registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.
Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge the club will encounter in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is a different scenario where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent might become the performer he showed during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would sit third at Christmas. And certainly earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as an essential player for the national team.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
