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Just two months prior that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as the Villa manager berated him for missing a pass in behind. Back then, with the team went six without a win, the question was if his performances were a symptom or a cause for Villa's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, though, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. As the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to a 10th successive win , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, find themselves only three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

This is an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. History, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, in only two games has the side registered an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club which has strung together 10 in a row, Villa appear strangely fragile – however at the moment the margins are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The current approach seems to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for their star man to rescue them with two clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again versus United.

The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the post from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more efforts and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those games.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival the club must confront as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures could still find their top level.

• The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the performer he was during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

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

Enjoying the Ride

However, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, no one envisioned the young forward now would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

The current run must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. As Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.