A mere two months in the past that the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager berated him for not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his performances were a symptom or the reason for Villa's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. When the in-form star swept in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win any of their first six games, find themselves a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s a particularly tough proposition to answer. Past precedent, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, even as the positive results have stacked up.
Per the data, twice all season has the team had an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a team that have put together 10 in a row, they seem weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping Rogers to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again against Manchester United.
The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration 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, Manchester United had a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.
A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge they will encounter as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing the ball into the net's top corner week in, week out.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.
- The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent could transform into the performer he resembled during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward now would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.
The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
