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A mere eight weeks prior when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager berated him over missing a through-ball. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his performances were a sign 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 proved to be much more joyous. After Rogers drilled in his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss tore off his winter coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, find themselves just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Challengers?

It remains a rather hard query to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.

According to Opta, in only two games has the team posted an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a club who have just won 10 in a row, they look strangely fragile – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic looks like to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping their talisman to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. It happened at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition managed more shots and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent they have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players might still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
• The winger may rediscover the performer he was in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would sit third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. As the hero faced the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.