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Just eight weeks prior that the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager scolded him for missing a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or the source of Villa's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, however, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. When Rogers drilled in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row , despite not winning any of their first six matches, find themselves only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Hopefuls?

It remains a rather hard question to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the wins have piled up.

According to the data, on just two occasions has the side posted an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club that have put together ten consecutive victories, they seem strangely fragile – but right now the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to save the day with two clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the upright 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.

“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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United had a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent they will encounter in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling the ball into the top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be an alternative path where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent might become the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers now would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as an essential England player.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it seems so surreal. As the hero positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.