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A mere two months in the past when the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager berated him for missing a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his performances were a sign or a cause of 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 sideline response was much more joyous. When Rogers drilled in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The team marched on to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, find themselves only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?

That’s a rather hard query to address. History, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant this season, while the wins have stacked up.

Per Opta, on just two occasions has the team had an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a club which has put together ten consecutive victories, Villa look strangely fragile – yet at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and then rely on Rogers to save the day with some crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened in London, and again versus the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the upright from a wide position. For his second acted as a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opponents had more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival Villa have to face as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists another reality in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he showed in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be leading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital England player.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.