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Just eight weeks ago that the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while Unai Emery scolded him over missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom or the reason of the team's more general malaise.

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

In the latest match, though, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. When the England international drilled in his second to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow only three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

This is a particularly tough question to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, while the wins have piled up.

According to the data, in only two games has the side had an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a side that have put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – yet currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with rivals and wait for their talisman to rescue them with some crisp finishes. It happened at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing 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?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United had more efforts and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival they will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, will not continue to blasting the football into the top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists another reality where, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward may begin to finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. As the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.