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Just eight weeks ago that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while his coach berated him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained if his displays were a symptom or the reason for the side's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. After the England international curled home his second to restore the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and roared. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their opening six fixtures, find themselves just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s an exceptionally difficult query to address. History, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, their performances haven't been wholly dominant in many games, while the victories have stacked up.

According to Opta, twice all season has the side registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team which has strung together 10 in a row, they look weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their star man to rescue them with some precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more versus Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first 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?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.

A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario where, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures may yet rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho might become the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.

This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital Three Lions star.

This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. When Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.