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Just two months prior when the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause of the side's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. As the England international swept in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the boss discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Challengers?

It remains a rather hard query to resolve. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, while the wins have accumulated.

According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side had an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a side which has strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem strangely fragile – but right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their talisman to bail them out with two crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again against the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United managed more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent Villa must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.

• The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho might become the performer he showed during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.