A mere 60 days prior when the young forward found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as his coach scolded him for missing a pass in behind. During that period, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or the source of the team's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. After Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win , after failing to win any of their first six matches, find themselves a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard proposition to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, while the positive results have stacked up.
Per Opta, on just two occasions has the side had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side which has strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the margins are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and then rely on their star man to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more against United.
The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent they will encounter in the near future. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain drilling his shots into the top corner forever.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.
This could contain the seeds of a title challenge, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
However, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as a vital player for the national team.
This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the North End after the match conducting the cheers, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
