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It was eight weeks prior when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager scolded him for missing a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a sign or the source for the side's broader struggles.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. After Rogers drilled in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his coat, opened his arms and roared. Villa continued to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their opening six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?

This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, even as the wins have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, in only two games have Villa registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a team which has just won 10 in a row, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their star man to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. During the latest victory, Manchester United managed more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.

Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge the club have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain drilling the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the performer he resembled in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like a vital player for the national team.

The current run is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. When the hero stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.