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It was eight weeks prior that the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a sign or the reason of the team's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. After Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa continued to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

This is a rather hard question to answer. History, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

According to Opta, on just two occasions have Villa had an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a team who have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans appear strangely fragile – but right now the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping their talisman to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he pounced 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 opponents had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent the club will encounter in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling the football into the net's top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists a different scenario in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures could still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• The attacking talent might become the player he resembled during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky defence.

This could contain the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.