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A mere 60 days in the past that the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while the Villa manager admonished him over missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a symptom or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. When Rogers swept in his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their opening six matches, are somehow just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough question to address. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, while the victories have stacked up.

Per Opta, twice all season has the side posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a club that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they appear weirdly vulnerable – however right now the margins are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their star man to rescue them with two crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again versus United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of the opener capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge they must confront in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, will not continue to blasting his shots into the top corner week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Could it be another reality where, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures may yet rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he showed during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.

This could contain the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would be third at Christmas. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As the hero positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.