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Just two months in the past that the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club went six without a win, the question was if his performances were an indicator or a cause of the team's wider issues.

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

On Sunday, however, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. After the England international drilled in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, are somehow only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough question to resolve. History, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, even as the positive results have stacked up.

According to the data, in only two games have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club who have strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear curiously susceptible – but currently the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their talisman to rescue them with two clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from a superb shot, bent just inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second acted as a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United had more shots and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent the club have to face in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists a different scenario in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still find their top level.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he resembled in Germany.
• The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as a vital England player.

This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.