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A mere 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while his coach admonished him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, the question was if Rogers' form were an indicator or the reason for the team's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. After Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa continued to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, now sit just three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.

Per statistical analysis, in only two games have Villa had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club that have just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the margins are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with a couple of clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened when facing United.

His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition managed more shots and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A reversion to average might be the most significant challenge they must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, will not continue to drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists another reality in which, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent might become the performer he was during his peak.
• The defensive duo are due to return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely back in October, nobody thought Rogers now would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.

This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.