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It was two months ago when the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery admonished him for missing a through-ball. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his performances were a sign or the source for Villa's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, though, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. As the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six matches, find themselves a mere three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Challengers?

It remains a particularly tough query to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing this season, while the wins have piled up.

As per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a side who have put together ten consecutive victories, they look strangely fragile – but right now the margins are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic looks like to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to save the day with two crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.

His opener came from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of his first as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition had more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival Villa have to face in the near future. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Could it be another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still find their top level.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought Rogers now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.

This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.