🔗 Share this article

It was two months prior when the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager berated him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his performances were a sign or the reason of the team's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. As Rogers swept in his second to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win their opening six matches, are somehow only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s a particularly tough question to address. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.

According to Opta, on just two occasions has the side posted an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club who have just won ten consecutive victories, they seem curiously susceptible – however currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with two clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more against Manchester United.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slight scruffier version of his first capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

“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.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opponents managed more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean might be the greatest opponent the club have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling his shots into the top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists another reality in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.

• The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the force he showed during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial England player.

This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.