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A mere two months ago when Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while his coach scolded him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his performances were an indicator or the source of Villa's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. When the England international curled home his second to restore Villa's lead, Emery tore off his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six matches, now sit only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s a rather hard question to answer. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been wholly dominant in many games, even as the positive results have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a side which has just won a ten-match winning streak, they look curiously susceptible – however right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on their star man to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened against the Red Devils.

The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, arced right inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized 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?

Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival they have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Could it be an alternative path where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still return to peak condition.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho might become the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.

Savoring the Moment

However, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder now would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.