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A mere eight weeks ago that the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while his coach scolded him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for the side's wider issues.

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

On Sunday, however, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star drilled in his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?

That’s an exceptionally difficult query to address. History, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.

As per statistical analysis, in only two games has the side registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a club which has put together 10 in a row, Villa look curiously susceptible – however currently the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for Rogers to save the day with two clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.

His opener originated from a brilliant finish, arced precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opposition managed more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent the club must confront as the season progresses. Rogers, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

But then, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be leading a title charge while looking like a vital England player.

This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. As Rogers positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.