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Just eight weeks in the past that the Villa attacker was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as the Villa manager admonished him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his performances were an indicator or the source for Villa's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. As the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their opening six matches, now sit a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

That’s an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. History, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, even as the victories have piled up.

As per Opta, in only two games has the team posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club that have strung together 10 in a row, they look curiously susceptible – however at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping their talisman to rescue them with some precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened against Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

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

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.

Regression to the mean might be the most significant challenge the club will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• The attacking talent might become the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are due to regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky defence.

This could contain the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be leading a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner faced the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.