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Just two months prior when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as his coach berated him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, with the team went six without a win, the question was if his performances were an indicator or the reason for the team's more general malaise.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

In the latest match, in contrast, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. As the in-form star swept in his second to reclaim his side's advantage, Emery ripped off his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Serious Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the wins have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa registered an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a side which has put together 10 in a row, the Villans appear weirdly vulnerable – however currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their star man to save the day with two crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened when facing Manchester United.

The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those games.

A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter as the season progresses. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures might still find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho might become the player he showed in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the match-winner faced the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.