A mere 60 days in the past that the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while the Villa manager admonished him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were an indicator or a cause of Villa's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. As the England international curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard query to address. History, a general sense of this institution, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding this season, even as the victories have stacked up.
According to the data, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team who have strung together 10 in a row, they appear strangely fragile – however at the moment the margins are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with rivals before hoping Rogers to save the day with some precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened when facing Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, arced right inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more shots and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction could be the biggest rival the club must confront as the season progresses. Rogers, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists a different scenario in which, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- The winger could transform into the performer he resembled during his peak.
- The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Savoring the Moment
But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be leading a title charge while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.
This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As Rogers faced the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods do not happen often and should be relished.
