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A mere 60 days prior when Morgan Rogers was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager scolded him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his performances were a symptom or the source of the team's wider issues.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

In the latest match, however, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. After Rogers drilled in his second to restore his side's advantage, Emery ripped off his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Hopefuls?

It remains a rather hard proposition to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, even as the wins have accumulated.

Per the data, in only two games has the team had an xG notably superior than the other team. For a club which has strung together 10 in a row, Villa seem strangely fragile – yet at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for their talisman to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened versus Manchester United.

The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica 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?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition managed more shots and more shots on target. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge the club have to face in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.

This could contain the possibility of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, no one envisioned the young forward now would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.