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It was 60 days prior when the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while Unai Emery scolded him for missing a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or a cause of Villa's more general malaise.

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

This weekend, however, the sideline response was much more joyous. When the in-form star curled home his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, while the wins have accumulated.

As per the data, in only two games has the side registered an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a side which has put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear strangely fragile – yet currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.

His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of goal number one 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.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.

A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent they will encounter in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Could it be another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet find their top level.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• The winger might become the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. As the hero stood in front of the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and should be relished.