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A mere eight weeks prior when the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as Unai Emery admonished him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, the question was if Rogers' form were a sign or the source of the side's more general malaise.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

In the latest match, however, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. When Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their opening six games, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

It remains a particularly tough query to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

Per the data, on just two occasions has the team registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team which has just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – but right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach looks like to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for Rogers to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened versus United.

The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration 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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge the club have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain drilling his shots into the top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent might become the force he was in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.

This could contain the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly back in October, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be leading a title charge and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.

This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner faced the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.