It was 60 days in the past when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team went six without a win, the question was if Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause of the team's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. After Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their opening six fixtures, are somehow only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Hopefuls?
It remains an exceptionally difficult query to answer. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, even as the wins have stacked up.
As per Opta, on just two occasions has the side registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a club that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they appear weirdly vulnerable – however right now the margins are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on their star man to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more when facing United.
The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opponents registered more shots and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.
A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge the club must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the net's top corner forever.
Potential for Growth
Could it be another reality in which, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he showed in Germany.
- The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like an essential Three Lions star.
This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. As the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
