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A mere eight weeks in the past when the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager scolded him for missing a through-ball. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his displays were a symptom or a cause of Villa's more general malaise.

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

On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. After Rogers drilled in his second to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and roared. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win their opening six games, are somehow only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing this season, while the victories have stacked up.

Per the data, in only two games has the side had an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a team which has put together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear curiously susceptible – however at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with two crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent right inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Logic says not. Against United, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing the football into the net's top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures could still find their top level.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• The winger could transform into the performer he was during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

This could contain the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge while looking like an essential England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the hero positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.