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A mere eight weeks prior that Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him over missing a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his performances were a symptom or the reason of Villa's more general malaise.

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

This weekend, however, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. After the England international drilled in his second to restore the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his coat, spread his arms and roared. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their opening six matches, find themselves just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough proposition to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, even as the wins have stacked up.

As per the data, in only two games have Villa had an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team that have put together 10 in a row, they seem weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their talisman to rescue them with two crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened in London, and again versus Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent the club will encounter as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he resembled in Germany.
• The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.