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It was 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while his coach admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a sign or a cause of the team's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, though, the sideline response was much more joyous. After the England international drilled in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their opening six games, now sit a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?

It remains a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding in many games, while the victories have stacked up.

Per Opta, in only two games have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – but right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their star man to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again when facing Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of goal number one 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. Against United, Manchester United managed more shots and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival Villa will encounter in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the net's top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Could it be an alternative path whereby, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still return to peak condition.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder now would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a vital player for the national team.

This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. Such periods are rare in football and should be relished.