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A mere eight weeks ago when Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause for the team's wider issues.

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

This weekend, though, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. As Rogers curled home his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their opening six fixtures, find themselves only three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?

This is a rather hard question to resolve. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding in many games, even as the positive results have piled up.

As per Opta, twice all season has the team had an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a side which has strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa look curiously susceptible – yet currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for Rogers to bail them out with two crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened against United.

The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opponents managed more shots and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.

A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, will not continue to blasting the ball into the top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures might still find their top level.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho might become the force he was during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers now would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like an essential player for the national team.

This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. As the hero positioned himself before the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.