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Just two months prior that the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while his coach admonished him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether his displays were an indicator or the source for the team'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 sideline response proved to be far more favourable. When the England international drilled in his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

It remains a particularly tough question to answer. History, the perceived status of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team who have put together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear strangely fragile – yet currently the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping Rogers to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened against Manchester United.

His opener originated from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition managed more shots and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent they must confront in the near future. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain blasting the football into the top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists another reality where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he showed during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.

This could contain the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a vital Three Lions star.

The current run should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.