Just two months in the past when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while his coach admonished him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his performances were an indicator or the source for Villa's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. As the in-form star drilled in his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery discarded his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win any of their first six games, now sit just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?
That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, while the victories have accumulated.
Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team posted an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a team that have just won 10 in a row, Villa seem curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with two clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened when facing Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, arced just inside the post from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on a pass from Watkins.
“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.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, Manchester United had more shots and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival they must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot keep on blasting the football into the top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho might become the player he was during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would sit third at Christmas. And certainly earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward now would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as an essential England player.
This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. As the match-winner positioned himself before the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
