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Just two months ago when the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager admonished him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason of the team's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. When the England international curled home his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row , despite not winning any of their first six games, now sit a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

This is a particularly tough query to answer. History, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, even as the victories have stacked up.

As per the data, on just two occasions has the team posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a side who have just won 10 in a row, the Villans appear strangely fragile – however currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping their talisman to save the day with two precise efforts. It happened at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened against Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the upright from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. Against United, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, will not continue to drilling the ball into the top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is another reality whereby, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The winger may rediscover the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.

This could contain the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the young forward now would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.