A mere 60 days in the past when the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, with the team went six without a win, the question was if his displays were a symptom or the source for the team's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, though, the manager's outburst was far more favourable. After the England international curled home his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Title Contenders?
This is a particularly tough proposition to answer. History, the traditional standing of this institution, argues against it. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.
According to the data, in only two games have Villa posted an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a team which has strung together 10 in a row, the Villans look curiously susceptible – yet right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for their star man to save the day with two crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more versus United.
The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.
A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge the club have to face as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be a different scenario where, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins could start adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he resembled in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defence.
This could contain the potential of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.
The current run must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and should be relished.
