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It was 60 days in the past when the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager admonished him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his displays were a sign or the source of Villa's more general malaise.

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

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. As Rogers swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Challengers?

That’s a rather hard proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Moreover, their performances haven't been entirely convincing during this run, even as the victories have stacked up.

As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a side who have strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – however currently the fine lines are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping their talisman to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, arced right inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one 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.”

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge the club will encounter in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot keep on thrashing the ball into the net's top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be an alternative path whereby, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho might become the player he was during his peak.
• The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as an essential England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. When the hero positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.