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It was two months in the past when the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery admonished him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was if Rogers' form were a sign or a cause for the side's more general malaise.

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

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. As the England international curled home his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to a 10th successive win and after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

It remains an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. History, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, while the wins have stacked up.

According to the data, on just two occasions has the team registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a team which has just won a ten-match winning streak, they appear weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic looks like to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping their talisman to rescue them with two clinical strikes. This was the case away to Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more against the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opposition managed more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent the club have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing the football into the net's top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures could still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
• The attacking talent could transform into the force he resembled during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine Rogers now would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as an essential player for the national team.

This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. As the match-winner positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.