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A mere 60 days prior when the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while Unai Emery admonished him over missing a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his performances were an indicator or the reason of the team's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. As the England international swept in his second to restore Villa's lead, Emery discarded his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning any of their first six games, are somehow just three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

It remains a rather hard proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, while the victories have accumulated.

According to statistical analysis, in only two games have Villa posted an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side that have put together 10 in a row, Villa look strangely fragile – yet at the moment 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 star man to bail them out with two crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired in London, and again against United.

His opener originated from a superb shot, curled right inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.

“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.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition registered more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those games.

Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent they have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing his shots into the net's top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is another reality where, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the player he resembled during his peak.
• The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

The current run must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero stood in front of the North End at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.