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A mere two months in the past when the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager admonished him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his performances were an indicator or the reason of the side's wider issues.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

This weekend, though, the sideline response proved to be decidedly more positive. After Rogers drilled in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to a 10th successive win , despite not winning their opening six games, find themselves a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Challengers?

That’s a rather hard question to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the wins have piled up.

According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side which has just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping their star man to save the day with some crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again against Manchester United.

The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge the club must confront in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting the ball into the top corner week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. As Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.