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It was eight weeks in the past when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while his coach berated him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. During that period, with the team failed to win in six, the question was whether his performances were a symptom or the source of Villa's more general malaise.

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

In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. As the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row and having failed to win any of their first six games, are somehow only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?

This is a rather hard proposition to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding this season, even as the positive results have stacked up.

Per Opta, on just two occasions has the side registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a team who have just won ten consecutive victories, they look strangely fragile – however currently the margins are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their star man to save the day with some crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again versus United.

His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the post from a wide position. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those games.

A statistical correction might be the biggest rival the club will encounter in the near future. Rogers, surely, will not continue to blasting the ball into the top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still find their top level.

• The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the force he resembled in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like a vital England player.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. As Rogers stood in front of the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.