It was two months in the past that the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as his coach admonished him for missing a through-ball. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or the source of Villa's more general malaise.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
In the latest match, however, the sideline response proved to be far more favourable. When Rogers curled home his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory and despite not winning any of their first six matches, are somehow only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?
It remains an exceptionally difficult proposition to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, their performances haven't been wholly dominant during this run, while the victories have stacked up.
Per the data, twice all season has the side registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a team who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem strangely fragile – however currently the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for Rogers to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again against Manchester United.
The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, arced right inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first as he seized 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?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opposition registered more shots and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those matches.
Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge the club must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling his shots into the top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still return to peak condition.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho might become the force he was during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.
This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
