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Just eight weeks ago when the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while his coach scolded him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were a symptom or the source of the side's more general malaise.

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

On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. When the England international swept in his second strike to restore Villa's lead, Emery tore off his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win any of their first six matches, now sit only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Title Contenders?

This is a particularly tough proposition to resolve. Past precedent, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.

According to statistical analysis, twice all season has the side registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a side who have just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – however currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with an opponent before hoping Rogers to rescue them with some clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened against United.

His opener came from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first as he pounced 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.”

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those games.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival Villa will encounter in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial England player.

The current run must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner stood in front of the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.