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A mere eight weeks in the past that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom 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.”

In the latest match, in contrast, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. After the England international swept in his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?

It remains a rather hard question to resolve. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, even as the victories have accumulated.

As per Opta, twice all season has the team posted an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a club who have put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping Rogers to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more when facing Manchester United.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing 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?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United 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 but one of those matches.

A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he was in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.

This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought Rogers now would be leading a hunt for the title while looking like a vital Three Lions star.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the match-winner faced the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.