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Just eight weeks prior when the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach berated him for missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his performances were an indicator or the reason for the side's more general malaise.

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

This weekend, in contrast, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. When Rogers drilled in his second to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their opening six matches, are somehow only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Hopefuls?

It remains a rather hard question to answer. The historical record, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

As per Opta, twice all season has the side posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club which has put together 10 in a row, they look strangely fragile – however right now the margins are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for Rogers to rescue them with two clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again against Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the post from a wide position. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica 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.”

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, Manchester United managed more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.

A statistical correction could be the biggest rival they must confront as the season progresses. Their key man, in all likelihood, will not continue to blasting the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he showed during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would occupy third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital player for the national team.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.