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Just eight weeks in the past that Morgan Rogers was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery scolded him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was if Rogers' form were a sign or a cause of Villa's wider issues.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. As the in-form star swept in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win and after failing to win their opening six games, now sit a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to address. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, while the positive results have stacked up.

Per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side that have put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear curiously susceptible – yet currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for their star man to save the day with some clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again against the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he seized on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.

Regression to the mean may well be the most significant challenge Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Could it be an alternative path where, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• The winger could transform into the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought Rogers now would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial England player.

This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it appears so improbable. As Rogers faced the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.