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A mere eight weeks prior that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while his coach admonished him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were a sign or the reason of the team's more general malaise.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. After Rogers drilled in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six games, are somehow only three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding in many games, while the victories have piled up.

According to Opta, on just two occasions has the team had an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a club that have strung together 10 in a row, they seem strangely fragile – yet right now the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on Rogers to save the day with some clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened against Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he seized 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those games.

Regression to the mean might be the greatest opponent Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Could it be an alternative path in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward might resume scoring again.
• The winger might become the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while looking like an essential player for the national team.

The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As the hero positioned himself before the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.