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A mere eight weeks in the past when Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as his coach admonished him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause of the team's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. When the England international curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the boss discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their opening six games, now sit just three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Hopefuls?

That’s a rather hard question to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.

Per the data, on just two occasions has the side posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club which has just won 10 in a row, Villa look curiously susceptible – however at the moment the margins are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach looks like to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with two clinical strikes. This was the case away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.

The initial strike came from a superb shot, arced right inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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, Manchester United had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A statistical correction could be the biggest rival they will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent might become the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the young forward now would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as an essential Three Lions star.

This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. When the hero faced the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and should be relished.