It was eight weeks ago that the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while the Villa manager scolded him over missing a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether his performances were a sign or a cause of Villa's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, though, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. When the in-form star curled home his second to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win any of their first six games, now sit a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Serious Challengers?
This is an exceptionally difficult query to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, even as the positive results have piled up.
According to Opta, on just two occasions have Villa registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a club who have strung together 10 in a row, Villa look strangely fragile – yet right now the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired in London, and again against Manchester United.
The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized on a pass from Watkins.
“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 opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.
A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge they have to face in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is an alternative path where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
- The attacking talent might become the player he resembled during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.
Perhaps there is in that the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder now would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial England player.
The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
