🔗 Share this article

A mere 60 days prior when the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as Unai Emery scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a sign or the source for the side's wider issues.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. After Rogers drilled in his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the boss tore off his coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves just three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough question to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

According to the data, on just two occasions has the side had an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a side who have put together 10 in a row, they look weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the margins are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened against United.

Rogers' first goal came from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the post from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition had more shots and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent they will encounter in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet return to peak condition.

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he showed in Germany.
• The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

This could contain the seeds of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. When the hero positioned himself before the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.