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It was eight weeks ago that Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as his coach berated him for not reading a pass in behind. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for the side's more general malaise.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

On Sunday, however, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. When the in-form star curled home his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss discarded his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win any of their first six games, now sit a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?

This is a rather hard question to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, while the wins have piled up.

Per the data, twice all season has the side registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side that have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look strangely fragile – yet right now the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic looks like to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to save the day with some crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened when facing Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced just inside the post from a wide position. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

Is It Sustainable?

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

A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge they have to face in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing his shots into the top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists another reality where, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he resembled in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable the team would sit third at Christmas. And certainly earlier this season, few could imagine the midfielder now would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial England player.

This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. When Rogers faced the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.