A mere eight weeks in the past that the Villa attacker was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while the Villa manager admonished him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or the source of the side's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely far more favourable. When the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery tore off his coat, spread his arms and roared. The team continued to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six matches, find themselves just three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough query to answer. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, even as the positive results have piled up.
Per Opta, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team that have put together 10 in a row, the Villans look curiously susceptible – however right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping their star man to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired in London, and again against United.
His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version 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?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opponents registered more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.
A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing his shots into the top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Could it be a different scenario where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures may yet find their top level.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- The winger may rediscover the player he resembled in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.
This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers now would be leading a title charge while looking like an essential player for the national team.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.
