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A mere 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 through-ball. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, the question was whether his displays were a symptom or the reason of the side's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. As the England international curled home his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his coat, spread his arms and roared. The team marched on to a 10th successive win , despite not winning any of their first six matches, now sit a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

It remains a rather hard proposition to answer. History, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, even as the wins have stacked up.

According to statistical analysis, in only two games have Villa posted an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club who have strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – however right now the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for their talisman to rescue them with some clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened versus United.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.

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

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge the club will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures may yet return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent could transform into the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

This could contain the potential of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like a vital England player.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it appears so improbable. As Rogers positioned himself before the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and should be relished.