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It was eight weeks prior when the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager admonished him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a symptom or a cause for the team's more general malaise.

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

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. When the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa continued to a 10th successive win and after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?

This is an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant this season, even as the victories have piled up.

Per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they appear weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with rivals and wait for Rogers to save the day with two precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it occurred in London, and again against Manchester United.

The initial strike came from a superb shot, curled right inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures might still rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward might resume adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho might become the player he showed in Germany.
• The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As Rogers stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.