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It was eight weeks prior when the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while his coach berated him over missing a through-ball. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his performances were an indicator or the reason of the team'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. After the in-form star curled home his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win and after failing to win any of their first six matches, find themselves only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

That’s a rather hard proposition to resolve. History, the traditional standing of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, while the victories have piled up.

According to statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team who have put together 10 in a row, they appear weirdly vulnerable – however currently the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their star man to save the day with some precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.

His opener originated from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

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

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition managed more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those matches.

Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent the club must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain thrashing his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be an alternative path where, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still return to peak condition.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

This could contain the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.

The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As the hero faced the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.