🔗 Share this article

Just 60 days in the past that the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager admonished him for missing a through-ball. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were an indicator or the source for the team's wider issues.

“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 decidedly more positive. After the England international curled home his second to restore Villa's lead, the boss discarded his coat, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves only three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team who have just won ten consecutive victories, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping their star man to save the day with some crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. Against United, the opposition managed more shots and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent Villa have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, will not continue to thrashing the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be an alternative path where, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he resembled during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.

This could contain the seeds of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

However, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be leading a title charge while looking like an essential player for the national team.

This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. When Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.