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Just two months in the past that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as his coach admonished him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if his displays were a sign or the source of the team's more general malaise.

“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 sideline response was far more favourable. After Rogers drilled in his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery discarded his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves only three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Challengers?

This is a rather hard proposition to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, while the positive results have stacked up.

According to Opta, twice all season have Villa registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a club that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear weirdly vulnerable – but currently the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for their talisman to save the day with some crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and again versus United.

Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener capitalizing 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United managed more shots and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling the ball into the net's top corner week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Could it be another reality in which, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins could start adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho might become the force he showed in Germany.
• The defensive duo are due to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.

This could contain the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.