A mere two months prior when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him over not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or the reason for Villa's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. When the England international curled home his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning any of their first six games, are somehow only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard proposition to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the wins have piled up.
Per Opta, in only two games have Villa had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club that have put together 10 in a row, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – however currently the margins are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.
His opener came from an exquisite effort, arced precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of his first as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“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 secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.
Regression to the mean might be the most significant challenge the club will encounter in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures might still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he was in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward now would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial England player.
This remarkable period is to be savoured for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero faced the Villa faithful when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.
