🔗 Share this article

Just 60 days in the past when the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while his coach scolded him over missing a through-ball. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his performances were a symptom or the reason for Villa's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, though, the sideline response proved to be far more favourable. As the England international curled home his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery tore off his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa continued to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win any of their first six matches, now sit just three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains an exceptionally difficult query to address. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the wins have piled up.

According to Opta, twice all season has the side had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club which has put together ten consecutive victories, they appear strangely fragile – but right now the margins are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for their talisman to save the day with two clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again against the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.

A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge they will encounter as the season progresses. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling the football into the top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start adding to his goal tally.
• The winger may rediscover the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would be third at Christmas. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

This remarkable period is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the match-winner positioned himself before the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.