This Remarkable Golden Spell Propels Aston Villa's Unlikely Title Charge

Just eight weeks prior when the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery admonished him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained if his performances were a symptom or the reason for the team's broader struggles.

This weekend, though, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. After the in-form star curled home his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row and after failing to win any of their first six games, find themselves a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Challengers?

It remains a rather hard proposition to answer. History, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Moreover, their performances haven't been entirely convincing this season, while the victories have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season has the team had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – but currently the fine lines are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for Rogers to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more against United.

His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, arced precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent Villa have to face as the season progresses. The forward, surely, will not continue to blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is an alternative path where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the force he was in Germany.
• The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable backline.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly back in October, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be leading a title charge while looking like a vital England player.

This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.