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Just 60 days in the past that the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while the Villa manager berated him for missing a through-ball. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his performances were a sign or a cause of the team's broader struggles.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

In the latest match, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. When Rogers swept in his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his jacket, spread his arms and roared. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, now sit just three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough query to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding during this run, even as the wins have stacked up.

Per Opta, on just two occasions has the side had an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a team which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, they seem curiously susceptible – but currently the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their star man to rescue them with some clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more against Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

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

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opponents had more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival they must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, will not continue to blasting the football into the net's top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be another reality where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• The winger could transform into the force he resembled during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a periodically leaky defensive unit.

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

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital England player.

This remarkable period is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As Rogers faced the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.