It was 60 days in the past when the young forward found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as his coach berated him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were a symptom or the reason for the team's more general malaise.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. After the England international curled home his second to reclaim his side's advantage, the boss discarded his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa continued to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?
It remains an exceptionally difficult proposition to answer. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the wins have stacked up.
As per Opta, twice all season has the team had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club who have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans look curiously susceptible – yet right now the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their star man to save the day with some crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, bent just inside the upright from a wide position. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener 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?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opposition registered more shots and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.
A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge the club will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling the ball into the net's top corner forever.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet find their top level.
- The centre-forward may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The winger might become the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder now would be leading a hunt for the title while looking like an essential Three Lions star.
This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it appears so improbable. When the hero faced the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.
