A mere eight weeks in the past when the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his performances were a symptom or a cause of the side's more general malaise.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the sideline response proved to be decidedly more positive. After Rogers drilled in his second to restore the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their opening six fixtures, now sit just three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Serious Challengers?
That’s a rather hard question to resolve. History, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the victories have piled up.
As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping Rogers to save the day with two clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred in London, and again when facing Manchester United.
The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized 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 opposition managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.
A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge they have to face as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.
A Case for Belief
Could it be a different scenario whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still find their top level.
- The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.
This could contain the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers now would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like a vital Three Lions star.
The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As the hero stood in front of the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and should be relished.
