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Just two months ago that the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while the Villa manager admonished him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a sign or the source for the team's more general malaise.

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

On Sunday, however, the sideline response was entirely much more joyous. When Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Hopefuls?

That’s a rather hard query to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been entirely convincing this season, while the wins have stacked up.

According to statistical analysis, twice all season has the side registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team that have put together a ten-match winning streak, they seem weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the margins are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with the opposition before hoping their talisman to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it happened in London, and once more versus Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of his first as he pounced 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opposition had more efforts and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival Villa will encounter in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists another reality where, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet find their top level.

• The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent might become the player he was in Germany.
• The defensive duo are due to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would occupy third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, few could imagine Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.

The current run should be enjoyed exactly since it appears so improbable. As Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells do not happen often and should be relished.