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It was 60 days in the past when the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his displays were a sign or the reason of the team's broader struggles.

“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 the England international drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?

This is a rather hard proposition to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding during this run, even as the positive results have piled up.

According to statistical analysis, twice all season has the team had an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a side which has strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear curiously susceptible – but at the moment the margins are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their star man to bail them out with some clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more versus Manchester United.

The initial strike originated from a superb shot, bent right inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing 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?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is a different scenario where, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.

• The main striker might resume scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the performer he was during his peak.
• The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward now would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like an essential England player.

This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As the match-winner faced the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.