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It was 60 days in the past when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while the Villa manager berated him over missing a pass in behind. During that period, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were a symptom or a cause of Villa's wider issues.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

This weekend, however, the sideline response proved to be far more favourable. After the in-form star swept in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win any of their first six matches, now sit just three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

This is a rather hard query to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, even as the wins have stacked up.

As per Opta, on just two occasions has the team had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a side that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear curiously susceptible – but currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to save the day with some precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again against United.

His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized 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. In the recent win, Manchester United had more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.

A reversion to average might be the most significant challenge Villa must confront as the season progresses. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on blasting the ball into the top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be a different scenario whereby, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures could still return to peak condition.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are set to return from injury, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defence.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As Rogers stood in front of the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.