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A mere 60 days ago that Morgan Rogers was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while Unai Emery berated him for missing a through-ball. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or a cause 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.”

This weekend, though, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. After the in-form star swept in his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row , after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Hopefuls?

That’s a rather hard proposition to address. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

According to the data, in only two games has the side posted an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a club which has just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with rivals and wait for their talisman to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened versus Manchester United.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of goal number one 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?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opponents managed more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the net's top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Could it be another reality where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• The winger may rediscover the performer he was during his peak.
• The injured centre-backs are due to regain fitness, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable backline.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine Rogers now would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.

This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the hero faced the home supporters at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.