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A mere 60 days prior when Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as his coach scolded him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause 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, in contrast, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. As the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team continued to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six matches, are somehow only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?

It remains an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. History, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, even as the wins have accumulated.

Per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa had an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a club which has put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to trade blows with rivals before hoping their talisman to rescue them with some precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge they will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Could it be another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho might become the performer he was during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, few could imagine Rogers now would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like a crucial England player.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. As Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.