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A mere two months in the past when the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager admonished him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his displays were a symptom or the source for Villa's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. When the England international drilled in his second to reclaim his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. Villa continued to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their opening six games, now sit just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Serious Title Contenders?

That’s a particularly tough question to resolve. History, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding in many games, while the victories have accumulated.

As per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, they seem strangely fragile – however at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for their star man to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again against the Red Devils.

His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one 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.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. Against United, the opponents registered more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.

Regression to the mean might be the most significant challenge they have to face in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, will not continue to thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

A Case for Belief

Could it be a different scenario where, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures might still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho might become the performer he was in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital England player.

The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As the match-winner faced the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.