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A mere eight weeks ago when Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach berated him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a sign or the reason for Villa's more general malaise.

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

On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. As the in-form star curled home his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win and despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, now sit a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to resolve. History, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding this season, even as the wins have piled up.

Per Opta, on just two occasions has the side posted an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a team who have just won 10 in a row, they seem curiously susceptible – but right now the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on their star man to save the day with a couple of crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened when facing Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing 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.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent they must confront in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists an alternative path where, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures could still find their top level.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he showed during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable backline.

Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like an essential Three Lions star.

This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers stood in front of the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.