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It was eight weeks in the past when Morgan Rogers was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager scolded him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, as the club went six without a win, the question was if his performances were a symptom or the reason of Villa's wider issues.

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

This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. As the in-form star swept in his second to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The team continued to a 10th successive win , after failing to win any of their first six games, now sit only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?

This is a rather hard question to answer. History, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, while the victories have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season has the team posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a side who have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans look curiously susceptible – yet right now the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping their talisman to rescue them with two clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened when facing United.

The initial strike originated from a superb shot, arced just inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents registered more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all except one of those matches.

Regression to the mean might be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is an alternative path where, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky defence.

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

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be leading a title charge while looking like a vital player for the national team.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.