It was 60 days in the past that the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery admonished him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were an indicator 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 far more favourable. As the in-form star swept in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?
It remains a particularly tough proposition to address. History, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, even as the wins have stacked up.
As per Opta, twice all season have Villa registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a side that have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans look strangely fragile – yet at the moment the margins are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their star man to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This was the case away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, arced precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”
Is It Sustainable?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all except one of those matches.
Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival Villa will encounter as the season progresses. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists another reality in which, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
- The attacking talent might become the force he showed in Germany.
- The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like an essential England player.
This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As Rogers stood in front of the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells do not happen often and should be relished.
