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A mere two months prior when the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or the source for the team's more general malaise.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

On Sunday, though, the sideline response was much more joyous. As Rogers swept in his second to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, now sit just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Challengers?

It remains a particularly tough proposition to address. History, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding in many games, even as the positive results have accumulated.

Per Opta, in only two games have Villa had an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a team that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear curiously susceptible – but at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to save the day with two clinical strikes. This was the case away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened versus United.

His opener stemmed from a superb shot, bent right inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of his first as he pounced 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.

A statistical correction could be the biggest rival the club will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot keep on blasting the ball into the top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is another reality in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought Rogers now would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.