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Just two months in the past when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager scolded him for not reading a through-ball. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, the question was whether Rogers' form were an indicator or the reason of the team's more general malaise.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

In the latest match, however, the manager's outburst was far more favourable. When the England international curled home his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six matches, now sit a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough query to answer. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding in many games, even as the positive results have accumulated.

Per the data, twice all season have Villa had an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a club that have put together 10 in a row, they seem strangely fragile – but at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent before hoping their talisman to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more when facing the Red Devils.

His opener originated from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the upright from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition had more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent Villa have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet find their top level.

• The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he showed in Germany.
• The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.

The current run is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. When the hero positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.