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Just 60 days in the past that the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while Unai Emery berated him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained if his displays were an indicator or a cause of Villa's wider issues.

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

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. As Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, find themselves just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Serious Hopefuls?

It remains a rather hard proposition to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.

Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side that have put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach looks like to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to save the day with some crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from a superb shot, curled just inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing 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.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents had more efforts and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent Villa have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario where, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins could start adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho might become the player he showed during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.

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

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, nobody thought the midfielder now would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the hero positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.