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A mere two months in the past that the Villa attacker was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as his coach berated him over missing a through-ball. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was if Rogers' form were an indicator or the source for the side'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 sideline response was much more joyous. When the England international drilled in his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, Emery discarded his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, find themselves only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Hopefuls?

This is a particularly tough question to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been wholly dominant in many games, even as the positive results have accumulated.

According to the data, in only two games has the team posted an xG notably superior than the other team. For a side that have strung together 10 in a row, they look strangely fragile – yet at the moment the margins are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for their star man to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. This was the case away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and again versus Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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. Against United, Manchester United managed more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the biggest rival the club must confront as the season progresses. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on thrashing the ball into the net's top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists another reality where, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he was in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are due to regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial Three Lions star.

The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.