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A mere 60 days prior that the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while the Villa manager berated him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a sign or the reason for the side's broader struggles.

“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 far more favourable. As the England international swept in his second to restore Villa's lead, the boss discarded his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win and having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Challengers?

It remains a rather hard proposition to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

According to Opta, twice all season has the team registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team that have put together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – however currently the fine lines are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their star man to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

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

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opposition had more shots and more shots on target. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those matches.

A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting his shots into the net's top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he was in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

However, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.

This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.