It was eight weeks prior when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager scolded him over not reading a through-ball. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if his displays were a sign or the reason of the side's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, however, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. As the England international swept in his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their opening six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard proposition to answer. History, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, while the victories have piled up.
According to statistical analysis, in only two games has the team posted an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a team who have just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa look strangely fragile – however currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and then rely on their talisman to save the day with two precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired in London, and it happened when facing Manchester United.
His opener came from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first 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?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition had more shots and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, will not continue to blasting the ball into the top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures might still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent could transform into the performer he resembled in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.
This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.
The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the hero positioned himself before the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
