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Just eight weeks ago that the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery berated him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the source of Villa's more general malaise.

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

On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. As the in-form star swept in his second to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six matches, now sit just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Challengers?

This is an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, even as the positive results have piled up.

According to statistical analysis, twice all season has the team registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club which has put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem strangely fragile – however at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic looks like to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with two clinical strikes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened in London, and again versus Manchester United.

His opener originated from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first capitalizing 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?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.

Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario whereby, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
• The winger might become the force he resembled during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When Rogers faced the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.