A mere 60 days in the past when the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, the question was whether his displays were an indicator or the source of Villa's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, however, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. When the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning any of their first six matches, now sit a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?
It remains a particularly tough question to resolve. Past precedent, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, even as the victories have accumulated.
According to statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa posted an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a team who have strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear strangely fragile – yet at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping their talisman to save the day with two clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again against United.
Rogers' first goal came from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener capitalizing 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.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.
A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge the club must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Could it be an alternative path whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still rediscover their best form.
- The main striker could start scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho might become the player he resembled during his peak.
- The defensive duo are set to return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.
This could contain the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on one man.
Savoring the Moment
However, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.
This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.
