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Just 60 days prior when the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a through-ball. During that period, as the club went six without a win, the question was whether his displays were an indicator or the source for the side's more general malaise.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the sideline response proved to be far more favourable. After the in-form star curled home his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win any of their first six matches, find themselves just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to resolve. History, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, even as the victories have stacked up.

As per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa posted an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a team who have just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem strangely fragile – yet at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to save the day with some crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more against Manchester United.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener as he pounced 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United managed more efforts and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival they will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he was in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine Rogers now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.

The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As the hero stood in front of the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.