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A mere 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while his coach scolded him over not reading a pass in behind. At that point, as the club went six without a win, the question was if Rogers' form were a sign or the source of the team's more general malaise.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. When Rogers swept in his second to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery discarded his jacket, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row and having failed to win any of their first six games, now sit a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?

That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to resolve. History, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, even as the wins have accumulated.

As per the data, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club that have just won 10 in a row, the Villans look strangely fragile – however currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping their star man to rescue them with some precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.

His opener originated from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United had more shots and more shots on target. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.

A statistical correction could be the biggest rival they must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, will not continue to blasting his shots into the top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he showed in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. As the hero faced the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.