It was two months prior when the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while the Villa manager berated him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. During that period, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or the reason of Villa's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, though, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. After the in-form star curled home his second to reclaim his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?
This is a rather hard query to answer. History, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the victories have piled up.
As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a club who have put together a ten-match winning streak, they seem weirdly vulnerable – but currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their star man to rescue them with two precise efforts. It happened at Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more when facing United.
The initial strike originated from a superb shot, bent just inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge the club must confront in the near future. Their key man, surely, will not continue to blasting his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is an alternative path where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he was during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a hunt for the title while looking like a vital Three Lions star.
The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the hero stood in front of the North End after the match conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and should be relished.
