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It was two months ago when the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as his coach admonished him for missing a through-ball. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether his performances were a sign or the reason for the side's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. As Rogers drilled in his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win , having failed to win any of their first six matches, find themselves just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?

That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding during this run, even as the positive results have stacked up.

Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa registered an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a team that have put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans look curiously susceptible – however right now the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent before hoping their star man to save the day with two crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened against Manchester United.

His opener originated from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents registered more shots and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.

Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent the club must confront in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing the football into the top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Could it be a different scenario where, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he showed during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable the team would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, no one envisioned Rogers now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital England player.

The current run must be cherished exactly since it appears so improbable. 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 spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.