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It was eight weeks in the past that the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while his coach admonished him for missing a through-ball. Back then, as the club went six without a win, the question was whether Rogers' form were a sign or the reason of Villa's wider issues.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. When the England international curled home his brace-sealing goal to reclaim his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, are somehow only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough question to address. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the victories have piled up.

Per the data, in only two games has the side had an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a team who have strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – but right now the margins are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their star man to save the day with two precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more versus United.

Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, arced right inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition had more efforts and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge the club must confront in the near future. Rogers, surely, will not continue to thrashing his shots into the top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be an alternative path where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players might still find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent might become the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like an essential player for the national team.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. As Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.