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Just 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as his coach scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his displays were an indicator or the reason for the team's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. As the England international swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his coat, spread his arms and roared. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, find themselves only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, while the wins have stacked up.

Per the data, twice all season has the team registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a side which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, they look strangely fragile – yet at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping Rogers to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more against the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival Villa have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists another reality where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still find their top level.

• The main striker might resume finding the net regularly.
• The winger may rediscover the player he resembled during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial England player.

The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.