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Just 60 days prior when the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager berated him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained if his performances were a sign 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.”

In the latest match, however, the manager's outburst was far more favourable. When Rogers curled home his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa continued to ten wins in a row and having failed to win any of their first six matches, now sit only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?

It remains a rather hard proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season has the side posted an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a club who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa look strangely fragile – but currently the margins are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

“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?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents registered more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories 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 must confront in the near future. The forward, surely, will not continue to blasting the ball into the top corner week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent could transform into the performer he showed during his peak.
• The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.

This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely 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 most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the young forward now would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. When the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.