🔗 Share this article

It was eight weeks ago when the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery admonished him over missing a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or the source of the side'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 much more joyous. When the in-form star curled home his second to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery discarded his coat, opened his arms and roared. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six fixtures, are somehow just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?

It remains a rather hard question to answer. History, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, even as the positive results have piled up.

As per the data, in only two games has the team posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club which has just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with an opponent before hoping their star man to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again versus United.

His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United had more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those games.

A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter in the near future. Rogers, surely, will not continue to drilling the ball into the top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is another reality where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho might become the performer he resembled during his peak.
• The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable the team would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, few could imagine Rogers now would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.