A mere two months ago that the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager admonished him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether Rogers' form were a sign or the reason of the team's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, however, the sideline response was decidedly more positive. As Rogers swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win and after failing to win their opening six fixtures, are somehow only three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Serious Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard question to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, while the positive results have stacked up.
According to the data, in only two games have Villa had an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a side which has put together 10 in a row, they appear weirdly vulnerable – however currently the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their talisman to bail them out with some clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more versus United.
His opener came from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more shots and more shots on target. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.
A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent the club will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, will not continue to drilling his shots into the top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho might become the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers as the year closed would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as an essential Three Lions star.
The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
