Just two months prior that the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager scolded him for missing a through-ball. At that point, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his displays were an indicator or a cause of the team's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the sideline response proved to be decidedly more positive. When Rogers swept in his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win and after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?
This is a particularly tough question to resolve. History, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, while the wins have stacked up.
According to Opta, in only two games has the side registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a club which has put together 10 in a row, they seem strangely fragile – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping their talisman to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened when facing United.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, curled just inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a slight scruffier version of goal number one capitalizing 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.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition registered more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent they must confront as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be an alternative path in which, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures could still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
- The winger might become the performer he showed in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a title charge while looking like a crucial England player.
This remarkable period is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.
