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Just two months ago when the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery scolded him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his performances were a sign or a cause for the team's wider issues.

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

This weekend, though, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. After Rogers swept in his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. Villa marched on to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow just three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?

It remains a rather hard query to answer. History, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, while the victories have accumulated.

Per Opta, on just two occasions has the side had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team who have strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – however at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping Rogers to bail them out with two crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened against Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition had more shots and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival Villa will encounter in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the ball into the top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Could it be an alternative path in which, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine the midfielder 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 seems so surreal. When Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.