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A mere eight weeks prior when the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach scolded him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his performances were a symptom or a cause for the team's wider issues.

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

This weekend, though, the sideline response was much more joyous. As the England international drilled in his brace-sealing goal to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club continued to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, now sit a mere three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, even as the wins have piled up.

As per Opta, in only two games have Villa had an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a side which has put together 10 in a row, they look weirdly vulnerable – but right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. It happened at Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

“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. In the recent win, the opposition had more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.

Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival Villa will encounter in the near future. Their key man, surely, will not continue to thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to regain fitness, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.

This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial England player.

The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.