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Just eight weeks ago when Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as his coach berated him over missing a pass in behind. During that period, with the team failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were a sign or a cause of the team's wider issues.

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

This weekend, in contrast, the sideline response proved to be far more favourable. When the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his winter coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?

That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing this season, while the wins have piled up.

As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a side who have just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – but currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their star man to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more against Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

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

Can It Last?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge they will encounter in the near future. Rogers, surely, will not continue to drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists another reality where, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he was during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.

This could contain the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a vital Three Lions star.

This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.