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Just 60 days in the past that the Villa attacker was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team went six without a win, the question was if Rogers' form were an indicator or the source of the side'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, however, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. When Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa continued to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough query to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, even as the wins have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, in only two games has the team had an xG notably superior than the other team. For a club that have put together 10 in a row, they seem strangely fragile – but at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for their star man to rescue them with some precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened versus United.

The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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?

Logic says not. Against United, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival the club will encounter in the near future. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on drilling the football into the top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Could it be a different scenario where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent might become the performer he was during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky defensive unit.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital player for the national team.

This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. As Rogers positioned himself before the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.