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A mere eight weeks prior that Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if his displays were a symptom or the reason for the team's broader struggles.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

This weekend, however, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. When the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and roared. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning any of their first six games, are somehow a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

This is an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, while the positive results have stacked up.

According to Opta, on just two occasions has the team registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club which has put together a ten-match winning streak, they seem weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with rivals before hoping Rogers to bail them out with some crisp finishes. It happened at Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again when facing United.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the upright from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of goal number one capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival the club will encounter in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet return to peak condition.

• The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent might become the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.

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

Savoring the Moment

Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the midfielder now would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the hero stood in front of the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.