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A mere eight weeks prior when the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager berated him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, the question was whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the source for the team's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, though, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. When Rogers curled home his second to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and roared. The team continued to a 10th successive win , after failing to win any of their first six matches, now sit just three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

This is an exceptionally difficult query to address. History, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant this season, even as the positive results have accumulated.

According to statistical analysis, twice all season has the team posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a team who have strung together 10 in a row, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – but currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach appears to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. It happened at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first 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?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opponents managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling the football into the top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be an alternative path in which, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he resembled in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.