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A mere 60 days prior that the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as his coach berated him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or a cause for the side's wider issues.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

On Sunday, though, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. When the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his coat, opened his arms and roared. The team marched on to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit only three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

It remains a particularly tough question to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, even as the wins have accumulated.

As per Opta, in only two games have Villa posted an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a club which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – however currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for their talisman to save the day with some clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the post from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“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. Against United, the opposition had more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival the club have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

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 main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent might become the player he showed during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a title challenge, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as a crucial Three Lions star.

The current run should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. As the hero positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.