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A mere eight weeks ago that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while Unai Emery scolded him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his displays were an indicator or the source of Villa's broader struggles.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. When the in-form star drilled in his second strike to restore Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his coat, opened his arms and roared. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning any of their first six games, find themselves a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough question to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.

According to statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club who have strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – however right now the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for their talisman to save the day with some crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened versus United.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, arced precisely inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. Against United, the opponents registered more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter as the season progresses. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on blasting the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists another reality in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume scoring again.
• The attacking talent could transform into the performer he resembled during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defence.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly back in October, few could imagine Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.