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It was eight weeks ago when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as the Villa manager scolded him for not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether his performances were an indicator or the source for the team's wider issues.

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

This weekend, though, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. As the in-form star swept in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their opening six fixtures, now sit only three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough question to address. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, while the victories have piled up.

Per the data, in only two games have Villa posted an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a club who have just won 10 in a row, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – yet right now the margins are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for Rogers to save the day with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing 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.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those games.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent they will encounter in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Could it be a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the player he resembled in Germany.
• The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine the young forward now would be leading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.

The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner faced the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.