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It was eight weeks ago when the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery admonished him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, though, the sideline response was entirely much more joyous. After the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win and after failing to win any of their first six games, now sit only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?

This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to answer. Past precedent, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

According to statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team which has put together 10 in a row, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – however currently the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their star man to save the day with two precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.

His opener came from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, Manchester United had more shots and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those games.

A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge the club have to face in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the force he was in Germany.
• The defensive duo are due to return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable the team would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.