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It was eight weeks in the past when the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as his coach admonished him over missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his displays were a symptom or the source for the team's more general malaise.

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

This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. After Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim his side's advantage, Emery discarded his coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?

This is an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, even as the positive results have piled up.

According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a side which has put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans look strangely fragile – but at the moment the margins are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for their talisman to bail them out with some precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again against Manchester United.

His opener came from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition had more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the biggest rival the club have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures could still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the performer he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defence.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.