A mere two months in the past that the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager admonished him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his displays were a symptom or a cause for the team'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, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be much more joyous. When the England international curled home his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, opened his arms and roared. Villa continued to a 10th successive win and having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the wins have piled up.
As per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a team which has just won ten consecutive victories, they look curiously susceptible – however currently the margins are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
The current approach seems to be to trade blows with rivals and wait for their star man to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again against United.
His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those matches.
A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge they must confront in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
Potential for Growth
Could it be a different scenario whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward may begin to finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he showed in Germany.
- The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward now would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the hero positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.