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Just two months ago when Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager berated him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a sign or the source of the side's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. As the in-form star drilled in his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row and after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?

It remains a rather hard query to answer. History, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, even as the positive results have stacked up.

According to statistical analysis, in only two games has the team had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side who have put together 10 in a row, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the margins are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for Rogers to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica 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.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition registered more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.

Regression to the mean might be the greatest opponent Villa have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker might resume finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the force he resembled in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.

This could contain the possibility of a title challenge, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial 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 at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.