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It was two months prior that the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as his coach scolded him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether Rogers' form were an indicator or the reason 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.”

On Sunday, though, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. After the England international drilled in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win their opening six games, find themselves only three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?

That’s a particularly tough query to resolve. History, the perceived status of this institution, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding in many games, while the victories have accumulated.

As per Opta, twice all season have Villa had an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a team which has put together 10 in a row, they appear weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the margins are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for Rogers to save the day with two crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened versus the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United managed more shots and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those games.

Regression to the mean might be the greatest opponent they must confront in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting the ball into the net's top corner forever.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.

• The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are due to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly back in October, few could imagine the young forward now would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial England player.

This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it appears so improbable. When the hero faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.