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Just 60 days prior when the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a through-ball. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were an indicator or the reason of the team's more general malaise.

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

In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. After Rogers swept in his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win any of their first six matches, find themselves just three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?

This is a rather hard query to answer. History, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding this season, while the wins have stacked up.

As per Opta, twice all season have Villa registered an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a club that have put together 10 in a row, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – however currently the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to save the day with two precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, arced precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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. During the latest victory, Manchester United had more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average might be the biggest rival the club must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, in all likelihood, will not continue to thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• The main striker might resume finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he showed during his peak.
• The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while looking like an essential Three Lions star.

This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it seems so surreal. When the hero stood in front of the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.