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Just two months in the past that the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, the question was whether his displays were a sign or a cause for the team'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 manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. After the in-form star curled home his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their opening six matches, are somehow only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

It remains an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, while the positive results have stacked up.

As per Opta, twice all season has the side registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a team who have strung together 10 in a row, the Villans look strangely fragile – however right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping their star man to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more when facing Manchester United.

The initial strike came from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

“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.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more shots and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent Villa have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on thrashing his shots into the top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Could it be a different scenario where, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he resembled in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defence.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.