Just 60 days prior that the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while the Villa manager scolded him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or the source of Villa's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. After the England international curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the boss tore off his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six games, find themselves a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?
It remains a particularly tough question to resolve. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been wholly dominant during this run, while the positive results have stacked up.
Per statistical analysis, in only two games has the side posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side that have just won 10 in a row, they appear curiously susceptible – but right now the margins are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with two precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.
The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first 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.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opponents had more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.
A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival they will encounter in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still find their top level.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- The winger might become the player he resembled during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And certainly earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.
The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it seems so surreal. As the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
