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Just two months in the past when the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager berated him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were a sign or the reason for the side's wider issues.

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

This weekend, though, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. As the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win and after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains an exceptionally difficult proposition to answer. Past precedent, the traditional standing of the club, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

As per Opta, in only two games has the team had an xG notably superior than the other team. For a club who have strung together 10 in a row, Villa seem curiously susceptible – however currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping Rogers to bail them out with two clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it occurred in London, and again against Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean could be the greatest opponent they will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing his shots into the top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.

This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it seems so surreal. When Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells do not happen often and should be relished.