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Just 60 days prior that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom or the source for the side's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, however, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. After Rogers drilled in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?

That’s a rather hard proposition to answer. History, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, in only two games has the team posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team who have just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – however right now the margins are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with rivals before hoping Rogers to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired in London, and again when facing United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first as he seized 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?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United had more efforts and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival Villa will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital player for the national team.

This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.