A mere eight weeks in the past when the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the source for the side'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 manager's outburst was much more joyous. When Rogers curled home his second to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win , after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Challengers?
That’s an exceptionally difficult query to address. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.
Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team had an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team which has put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear strangely fragile – yet currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with some precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened versus Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opponents registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.
Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival the club must confront in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, will not continue to thrashing his shots into the net's top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists another reality where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
- The winger might become the force he resembled during his peak.
- The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.
This could contain the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
However, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be leading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential England player.
This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
