🔗 Share this article

It was 60 days prior that the young forward found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager berated him over not reading a pass in behind. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, the question was whether his displays were an indicator or the source for the team's more general malaise.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

This weekend, however, the manager's outburst was far more favourable. When the England international swept in his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their opening six games, are somehow a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?

This is a particularly tough question to answer. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, even as the victories have accumulated.

As per Opta, twice all season has the team posted an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a club who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – but currently the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, bent just inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents managed more shots and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.

Regression to the mean might be the most significant challenge Villa have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he showed during his peak.
• The defensive duo are due to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.