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Just 60 days in the past when the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while Unai Emery berated him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were an indicator or the reason of Villa's more general malaise.

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

This weekend, however, the sideline response was entirely much more joyous. After Rogers swept in his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their opening six matches, are somehow a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s a rather hard proposition to address. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the wins have piled up.

As per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa had an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a team that have just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with some precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again against Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, Manchester United managed 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 games.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival they must confront in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot maintain blasting the football into the top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Could it be a different scenario in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.

This could contain the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward now would be leading a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.

The current run must be cherished exactly since it appears so improbable. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.