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A mere 60 days prior that the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while his coach scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a symptom or the source for the team's broader struggles.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

On Sunday, however, the sideline response proved to be far more favourable. When Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?

This is a rather hard question to resolve. Past precedent, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

As per the data, twice all season has the team registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a side which has just won ten consecutive victories, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for their star man to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and again when facing United.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration 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.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, Manchester United had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those games.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival Villa will encounter in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be a different scenario where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would be in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be leading a title charge and appearing as a crucial England player.

This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.