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It was eight weeks in the past when the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery berated him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. During that period, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained if Rogers' form were an indicator or the source for the team's more general malaise.

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

This weekend, though, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. As the in-form star swept in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, Emery ripped off his jacket, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their opening six matches, are somehow just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Hopefuls?

That’s a rather hard proposition to address. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Additionally, their performances haven't been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.

As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa had an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa look curiously susceptible – however currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for Rogers to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.

His opener stemmed from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

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

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge the club must confront in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to blasting the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
• The attacking talent could transform into the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital England player.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. As Rogers stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.