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It was two months prior that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while his coach berated him for not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if Rogers' form were an indicator 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 manager's outburst was far more favourable. As the in-form star drilled in his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, opened his arms and roared. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , despite not winning any of their first six games, find themselves a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Hopefuls?

This is a particularly tough proposition to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the wins have piled up.

According to Opta, in only two games has the side posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team which has put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa look strangely fragile – yet right now the margins are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping Rogers to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again when facing Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a slight scruffier version of his first as he seized 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.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival they have to face as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Could it be an alternative path in which, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures could still find their top level.

• The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho might become the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the young forward now would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital player for the national team.

The current run is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the North End after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.