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Just two months ago that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while his coach scolded him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause for Villa's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, however, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. After the England international drilled in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their opening six games, find themselves a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough question to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant this season, while the positive results have piled up.

Per the data, twice all season has the side registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a team that have just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on their star man to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened in London, and again versus the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced right inside the post from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener 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?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, Manchester United had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent Villa must confront in the near future. Their key man, surely, will not continue to thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

This could contain the possibility of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

The current run must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. As the hero positioned himself before the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.