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It was 60 days in the past that Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery admonished him over missing a through-ball. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom or the source for the side's more general malaise.

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

On Sunday, though, the sideline response proved to be far more favourable. After Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their opening six matches, are somehow only three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

That’s a rather hard question to address. History, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the wins have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – yet currently the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for their star man to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened versus United.

The initial strike came from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. Against United, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival Villa have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing his shots into the top corner week in, week out.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures might still rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The winger could transform into the performer he showed in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are due to regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.