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Just eight weeks ago when the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach scolded him over missing a through-ball. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause for the side's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. When Rogers curled home his second to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, now sit only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?

It remains a rather hard query to resolve. History, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

Per the data, in only two games has the side posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side which has put together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem strangely fragile – however right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for their star man to save the day with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened against United.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent the club must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he resembled in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the young forward now would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial Three Lions star.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When Rogers faced the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.