A mere 60 days prior when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him over missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if his performances were a symptom or the reason of Villa's broader struggles.
“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 touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. After the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their opening six games, now sit just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
That’s an exceptionally difficult question to address. History, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.
According to Opta, on just two occasions has the team had an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a side which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear strangely fragile – yet right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their star man to save the day with two clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.
The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, arced right inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version 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, Manchester United managed more shots and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent the club will encounter as the season progresses. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain drilling his shots into the top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.
- The main striker could start scoring again.
- The winger could transform into the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned Rogers now would be leading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.
This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner faced the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.
