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A mere eight weeks prior that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while his coach admonished him over missing a through-ball. Back then, as the club went six without a win, the question was whether his displays were a symptom 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.”

On Sunday, in contrast, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. As Rogers curled home his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The team continued to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their opening six matches, find themselves just three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?

This is a particularly tough query to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

As per Opta, twice all season have Villa posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a side that have put together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with the opposition and wait for their talisman to save the day with some crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired in London, and it happened when facing Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced right inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he seized 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.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United had more efforts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those games.

A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge Villa have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the net's top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Could it be another reality where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• The attacking talent might become the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

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

Savoring the Moment

However, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be leading a title charge while looking like a crucial England player.

The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.