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It was 60 days prior that the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while his coach berated him for not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were an indicator or the source for the side's broader struggles.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

This weekend, however, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. As the England international swept in his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their opening six games, are somehow a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Challengers?

It remains a rather hard proposition to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing this season, even as the wins have accumulated.

As per the data, on just two occasions has the side posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a team who have put together 10 in a row, they seem curiously susceptible – yet currently the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired in London, and again versus the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opponents had more shots and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is a different scenario where, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
• The attacking talent could transform into the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, few could imagine the young forward now would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

The current run must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.