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Just eight weeks in the past when the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach admonished him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause for Villa's wider issues.

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

On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. As the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The team marched on to a 10th successive win , after failing to win any of their first six games, find themselves a mere three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough question to resolve. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the wins have stacked up.

As per Opta, twice all season has the side posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club that have strung together 10 in a row, they appear curiously susceptible – but currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to save the day with some precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened versus United.

The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

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

Can It Last?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge Villa must confront as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain thrashing the ball into the top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Could it be a different scenario whereby, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent could transform into the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a hunt for the title while looking like a vital England player.

This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.