This Remarkable Golden Spell Drives Villa's Surprising Championship Bid

Just 60 days prior when the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while the Villa manager admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained if his displays were an indicator or the reason of Villa's more general malaise.

On Sunday, though, the sideline response was much more joyous. As Rogers curled home his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa continued to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, find themselves only three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?

This is a rather hard query to resolve. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant this season, while the positive results have accumulated.

According to statistical analysis, in only two games has the side had an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a club who have put together 10 in a row, Villa seem curiously susceptible – yet right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their star man to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more against Manchester United.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the biggest rival the club will encounter in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, will not continue to blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists another reality in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures may yet return to peak condition.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent could transform into the performer he showed during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be leading a title charge and appearing as a vital player for the national team.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. When the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.