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Just eight weeks prior that the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager berated him for missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his performances were a symptom or the reason for Villa'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 sideline response was much more joyous. As the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, Emery discarded his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning any of their first six matches, find themselves just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough query to answer. History, the traditional standing of this institution, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, even as the positive results have stacked up.

Per the data, in only two games have Villa posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a club which has just won 10 in a row, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – but right now the margins are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for Rogers to rescue them with two clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and again when facing the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized 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.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge the club must confront as the season progresses. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on drilling the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he was during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.

This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the hero faced the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.