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It was eight weeks ago that the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach admonished him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or the reason for the side's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be much more joyous. As the England international curled home his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a 10th successive win , after failing to win their opening six games, now sit only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

This is a particularly tough question to address. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, while the positive results have stacked up.

According to Opta, twice all season have Villa had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team that have just won 10 in a row, Villa appear strangely fragile – yet right now the margins are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with the opposition before hoping their talisman to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened when facing United.

His opener originated from a superb shot, bent just inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

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

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opposition managed more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent Villa have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, will not continue to drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The winger may rediscover the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward now would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like a vital player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. As Rogers positioned himself before the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.