It was two months prior when the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager berated him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his performances were a sign or a cause of Villa's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, in contrast, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. After the England international drilled in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their opening six fixtures, now sit only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?
This is a rather hard query to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, while the victories have piled up.
Per the data, twice all season has the side posted an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a side that have just won ten consecutive victories, Villa look curiously susceptible – but at the moment the margins are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened when facing United.
His opener stemmed from a superb shot, arced right inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of the opener 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?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival the club will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on blasting the football into the top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be another reality where, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the performer he showed in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.
This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it appears so improbable. As the match-winner stood in front of the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
