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A mere eight weeks prior that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager admonished him for missing a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, the question was whether his performances were an indicator or the source of Villa's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the sideline response was entirely far more favourable. As Rogers swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Challengers?

That’s a rather hard query to resolve. History, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, even as the wins have piled up.

According to Opta, twice all season have Villa had an xG notably superior than the other team. For a team which has strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their talisman to save the day with some precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the post from a wide position. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A reversion to average might be the most significant challenge they will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling the ball into the top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be a different scenario where, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the performer he was during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would be third at Christmas. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential England player.

This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. When the hero faced the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.