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It was two months prior that Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager admonished him over missing a through-ball. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a symptom or the source of the side's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. When Rogers drilled in his second strike to reclaim his side's advantage, the boss discarded his jacket, opened his arms and roared. Villa continued to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their opening six matches, are somehow just three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Hopefuls?

It remains an exceptionally difficult query to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been wholly dominant during this run, even as the positive results have accumulated.

Per the data, on just two occasions has the side posted an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a club who have put together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem strangely fragile – however right now the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. It happened at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again against Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from a superb shot, bent right inside the post from a wide position. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opposition had more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.

Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he was in Germany.
• The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

This could contain the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder now would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like a vital England player.

This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it appears so improbable. As the hero faced the North End after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.