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It was eight weeks ago when the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as the Villa manager berated him for not reading a through-ball. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his performances were a symptom or the reason for the team's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, though, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. As the in-form star curled home his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row , after failing to win any of their first six games, now sit only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s a particularly tough query to resolve. Past precedent, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, while the positive results have stacked up.

According to statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team that have just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for their star man to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred in London, and again versus Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized 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 shots and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.

Regression to the mean may well be the most significant challenge they must confront in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists an alternative path where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger could transform into the player he was in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

The current run is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the North End after the match leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and should be relished.