A mere two months ago that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as the Villa manager admonished him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained if his displays were a symptom or the source for Villa's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. After Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win and after failing to win any of their first six matches, are somehow just three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?
It remains a particularly tough query to answer. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, argues against it. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, while the positive results have accumulated.
As per statistical analysis, in only two games has the side had an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a side who have strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping their star man to bail them out with some precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more when facing the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, arced right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“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. During the latest victory, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all except one of those games.
Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge Villa have to face in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain thrashing the ball into the top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the performer he resembled in Germany.
- The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defence.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine Rogers now would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.
This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
