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A mere 60 days in the past that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as Unai Emery berated him for not reading a pass in behind. During that period, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason of the team's more general malaise.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. As Rogers curled home his second to reclaim his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough proposition to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, while the wins have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season has the side posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team who have just won 10 in a row, Villa look strangely fragile – yet right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for their talisman to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened in London, and once more versus Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

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

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opponents registered more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent they must confront as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he was in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.

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

Savoring the Moment

But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital England player.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.