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Just 60 days prior that the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach berated him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club went six without a win, the question was if his performances were a sign or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. After Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his jacket, opened his arms and roared. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough question to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, even as the wins have piled up.

As per the data, on just two occasions have Villa had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem strangely fragile – however right now the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their talisman to rescue them with two precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.

His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent the club will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting the football into the top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The winger might become the player he was during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.

This could contain the potential of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. When the match-winner stood in front of the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.