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Just eight weeks in the past when Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as his coach admonished him over not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or the source of the team's wider issues.

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

On Sunday, however, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. After Rogers curled home his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their opening six games, are somehow just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough question to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

Per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa had an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club who have just won a ten-match winning streak, they seem strangely fragile – however at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping Rogers to save the day with some clinical strikes. This was the case away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more against United.

His opener originated from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition had more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those games.

A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge they must confront as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he resembled during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defence.

Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital England player.

This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. When Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.