It was eight weeks prior when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager admonished him over not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator 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.”
This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. When Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. The team continued to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their opening six fixtures, are somehow just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?
That’s a particularly tough query to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, even as the victories have stacked up.
According to the data, twice all season has the side posted an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, they seem strangely fragile – however currently the margins are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
The current approach looks like to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with some clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more versus United.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, bent right inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of his first 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opponents managed more efforts and more shots on target. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing his shots into the net's top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still find their top level.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- The winger may rediscover the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a periodically leaky defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital player for the national team.
This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. As Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
