🔗 Share this article

It was eight weeks in the past that the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach scolded him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if his displays were a sign or the source for Villa's wider issues.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

On Sunday, however, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. When Rogers swept in his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The team continued to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six games, are somehow just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough question to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, even as the wins have accumulated.

As per the data, twice all season has the team had an xG notably superior than the other team. For a team who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans appear weirdly vulnerable – but right now the fine lines are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for their talisman to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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. In the recent win, the opponents managed more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
• The winger might become the force he was during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

The current run is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.