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It was eight weeks ago that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his performances were an indicator or a cause for the team's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. As Rogers curled home his second strike to restore Villa's lead, Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

That’s a rather hard proposition to answer. History, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, even as the victories have accumulated.

Per Opta, in only two games has the team registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team that have put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem strangely fragile – but right now the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their star man to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened versus Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from a superb shot, curled just inside the upright from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. Against United, Manchester United managed more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those matches.

A statistical correction might be the biggest rival Villa must confront as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the football into the top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The centre-forward may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent might become the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

But then, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.