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It was two months ago that the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him over not reading a pass in behind. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained if his performances were a sign or the source for Villa's more general malaise.

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

This weekend, though, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. As the in-form star swept in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to a 10th successive win and despite not winning any of their first six games, find themselves only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

That’s an exceptionally difficult question to answer. History, the traditional standing of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant this season, while the victories have stacked up.

According to the data, twice all season has the side posted an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a side which has put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem curiously susceptible – but right now the margins are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic looks like to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for Rogers to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired in London, and again versus the Red Devils.

His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of his first as he pounced 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?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

Regression to the mean might be the biggest rival Villa will encounter in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot keep on blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet find their top level.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• The winger may rediscover the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are set to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital England player.

This remarkable period is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.