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It was two months prior that the young forward found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager berated him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his performances were a sign or the reason for the side's wider issues.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. After Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, spread his arms and roared. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Challengers?

That’s an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, even as the positive results have accumulated.

As per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club that have just won a ten-match winning streak, they seem curiously susceptible – but at the moment the margins are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The current approach seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for their star man to save the day with some clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more when facing United.

His opener originated from a brilliant finish, arced precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

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

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge the club will encounter in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling his shots into the top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he was during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.

The current run must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.