It was two months prior when the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager scolded him for not reading a through-ball. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason of Villa's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. As Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win any of their first six matches, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard query to resolve. History, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, while the wins have piled up.
According to statistical analysis, twice all season has the side registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team that have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the margins are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their star man to bail them out with two precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again against Manchester United.
The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those games.
A statistical correction might be the biggest rival Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists a different scenario in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures may yet return to peak condition.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he showed in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital player for the national team.
The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
