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It was eight weeks in the past that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while Unai Emery berated him for missing a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.

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

This weekend, though, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. As the England international swept in his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six matches, are somehow a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?

This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to answer. Past precedent, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

According to Opta, in only two games has the team posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side who have strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem curiously susceptible – but currently the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic looks like to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for their talisman to rescue them with two crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred 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 proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one 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. In the recent win, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent they must confront in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling his shots into the top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists another reality in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet return to peak condition.

• The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he was in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable backline.

This could contain the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells do not happen often and should be relished.