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A mere eight weeks in the past when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery berated him over not reading a through-ball. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was whether his performances were a symptom or the reason of the team's more general malaise.

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

In the latest match, though, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. When Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, Emery tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. Villa marched on to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, are somehow just three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough query to address. History, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding in many games, even as the victories have accumulated.

Per the data, in only two games has the team posted an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a club which has strung together 10 in a row, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – but right now the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for their talisman to save the day with two precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened when facing United.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, bent right inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized 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?

Logic says not. Against United, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.

Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival Villa have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing the football into the top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• The winger might become the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial England player.

The current run is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner positioned himself before the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells do not happen often and should be relished.