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Just two months in the past when the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if his displays were a sign or the reason of the team's more general malaise.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

On Sunday, however, the sideline response was entirely much more joyous. After the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, Emery discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

It remains an exceptionally difficult query to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, even as the victories have stacked up.

As per Opta, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team who have just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans look strangely fragile – however right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with rivals and wait for their talisman to save the day with some precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again against United.

The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing 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.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. Against United, the opponents managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction could be the biggest rival the club must confront in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be another reality where, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker might resume scoring again.
• The winger may rediscover the performer he resembled during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers now would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like a vital player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero stood in front of the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.