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It was 60 days ago that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while his coach scolded him over missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his displays were an indicator or the source for the team's more general malaise.

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

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. As the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to address. History, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant this season, while the positive results have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season has the side registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team that have put together 10 in a row, they look strangely fragile – but at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping their star man to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again when facing Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first capitalizing 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. During the latest victory, the opponents registered more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival the club have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on blasting the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he showed during his peak.
• The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as an essential England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.