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It was eight weeks in the past when the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach berated him for missing a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his displays were an indicator or a cause for Villa's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, though, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. After Rogers drilled in his second to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team marched on to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six matches, are somehow just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

It remains a particularly tough query to answer. History, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the wins have stacked up.

According to statistical analysis, in only two games has the side had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a side that have strung together ten consecutive victories, they seem weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more versus Manchester United.

The initial strike originated from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival Villa must confront in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot keep on thrashing the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume scoring again.
• The attacking talent might become the force he was in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.

This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. As the match-winner stood in front of the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and should be relished.