A mere eight weeks ago when the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery scolded him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained whether his performances 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.”
On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. After the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?
That’s a rather hard proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the wins have piled up.
Per the data, on just two occasions has the team had an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a team which has put together 10 in a row, they appear weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their star man to rescue them with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.
His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opponents registered more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival they must confront in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling his shots into the top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be a different scenario whereby, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the player he resembled during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.
This could contain the seeds of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.
Savoring the Moment
But then, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.
This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When the hero positioned himself before the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and should be relished.
