A mere two months prior that the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach berated him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his performances were a symptom or the source for the team's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the sideline response was far more favourable. When the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win , despite not winning any of their first six matches, now sit only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Challengers?
That’s a particularly tough question to answer. History, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.
Per the data, in only two games has the team had an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a team which has just won ten consecutive victories, Villa seem strangely fragile – but right now the margins are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for their talisman to rescue them with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more versus the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed more shots and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.
Regression to the mean may well be the most significant challenge Villa have to face in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting his shots into the net's top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- The winger could transform into the performer he resembled during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward now would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like an essential England player.
This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.
