🔗 Share this article

A mere two months in the past when the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him over missing a pass in behind. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a symptom or the source for the team's broader struggles.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. When Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow just three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?

This is a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant this season, while the positive results have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season has the team registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club that have strung together ten consecutive victories, they look strangely fragile – but currently the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their star man to save the day with some clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.

His opener came from an exquisite effort, arced precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opponents managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent the club must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting the ball into the top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be another reality in which, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• The winger could transform into the player he showed in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And most definitely back in October, nobody thought Rogers now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As Rogers faced the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.