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It was eight weeks prior when the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery admonished him over missing a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, however, the sideline response was entirely far more favourable. As the England international curled home his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their opening six matches, now sit only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?

It remains an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa posted an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side that have put together ten consecutive victories, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their star man to bail them out with two clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired in London, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal came from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing 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?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opponents registered more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival the club have to face as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling the ball into the top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• The winger could transform into the force he was in Germany.
• The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

But then, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would occupy third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like an essential England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.