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A mere eight weeks prior that the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager admonished him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a sign or the reason for Villa's more general malaise.

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

On Sunday, though, the sideline response was entirely far more favourable. When the England international swept in his second to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, opened his arms and roared. The team continued to ten wins in a row and having failed to win any of their first six games, are somehow just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

This is a particularly tough proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

According to the data, twice all season have Villa registered an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a club that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem curiously susceptible – however right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping their star man to save the day with two clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again against Manchester United.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the post from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition registered more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.

A statistical correction might be the biggest rival the club must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot keep on blasting the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• The attacking talent might become the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are set to return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. As Rogers positioned himself before the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.