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It was 60 days prior when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while Unai Emery berated him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the source of 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, however, the touchline reaction was entirely far more favourable. When Rogers drilled in his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their opening six fixtures, find themselves only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Serious Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough query to address. History, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the wins have stacked up.

According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a club which has put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened against Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opposition had more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge the club will encounter in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting the ball into the top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be a different scenario where, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the performer he resembled in Germany.
• The defensive duo are due to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be leading a title charge and appearing as an essential player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. As the match-winner faced the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.