🔗 Share this article

It was 60 days ago that the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager berated him over not reading a pass in behind. During that period, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a sign or a cause of the side'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 proved to be decidedly more positive. After the England international swept in his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six games, are somehow a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

This is a rather hard question to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, while the victories have stacked up.

As per Opta, in only two games has the side had an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a club that have just won a ten-match winning streak, they seem weirdly vulnerable – however currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their talisman to rescue them with some precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more against Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing 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?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opponents managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is another reality in which, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the young forward now would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. When the hero positioned himself before the North End after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.