It was two months ago when the Villa attacker was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while Unai Emery admonished him for not reading a through-ball. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained if his performances were an indicator or a cause of the side's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst was far more favourable. After the England international swept in his second to restore the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his coat, opened his arms and roared. The team continued to ten wins in a row , after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit just three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?
It remains an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. History, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.
According to the data, twice all season have Villa had an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club who have put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear strangely fragile – however currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach looks like to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more versus United.
Rogers' first goal came from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the upright from a wide position. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. Against United, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the performer he resembled in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the possibility of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital Three Lions star.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. As the hero positioned himself before the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
