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It was eight weeks in the past when the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while Unai Emery scolded him over missing a pass in behind. During that period, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his performances were an indicator or a cause for the side's broader struggles.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. As the in-form star drilled in his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six fixtures, find themselves only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?

That’s a rather hard question to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing this season, while the positive results have accumulated.

Per Opta, in only two games have Villa registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team who have just won 10 in a row, the Villans seem strangely fragile – but currently the margins are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with the opposition before hoping their star man to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again when facing United.

His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition had more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival they will encounter in the near future. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be an alternative path whereby, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he resembled in Germany.
• The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial England player.

The current run is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. When Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.