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A mere eight weeks ago that the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager berated him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, the question was 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 touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. After the in-form star swept in his second to restore Villa's lead, the boss tore off his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their opening six games, are somehow a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Challengers?

This is a particularly tough query to address. History, the traditional standing of this institution, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.

Per Opta, on just two occasions has the team had an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a team which has strung together 10 in a row, Villa look strangely fragile – but currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with two clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. Against United, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.

Regression to the mean might be the biggest rival the club have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, will not continue to drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists an alternative path where, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins could start adding to his goal tally.
• The winger may rediscover the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial Three Lions star.

This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. When the hero faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.