🔗 Share this article This Remarkable Rich Vein of Form Drives Villa's Unlikely Title Charge A mere two months in the past that the Villa attacker was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him over missing a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were a sign or a cause of the team's more general malaise. “As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.” A Touchline Reaction of Elation On Sunday, however, the sideline response proved to be decidedly more positive. When the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The team continued to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal. Are They Genuine Challengers? This is an exceptionally difficult query to address. History, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the wins have piled up. According to Opta, twice all season have Villa had an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a side that have strung together 10 in a row, Villa seem strangely fragile – but right now the margins are going in their favour. The Winning Formula Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with rivals and wait for their talisman to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more versus the Red Devils. The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off. “Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.” An Unstoppable Force Can It Last? Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opposition had more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures. Regression to the mean might be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter in the near future. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on thrashing his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out. Potential for Growth Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures may yet return to peak condition. Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly. The winger may rediscover the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund. The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit. Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers. Savoring the Moment Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would sit third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, nobody thought the young forward now would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like a crucial Three Lions star. This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. When the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.