A mere 60 days in the past when the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as Unai Emery scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team went six without a win, the question was if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for Villa's more general malaise.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, however, the touchline reaction was entirely far more favourable. As the in-form star swept in his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their opening six games, now sit just three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
This is an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the wins have stacked up.
According to the data, in only two games has the side had an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a club who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they seem strangely fragile – but at the moment the margins are swinging for them.
Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for Rogers to rescue them with two precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, arced precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced 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.”
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United managed more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those games.
A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent they must confront in the near future. Rogers, surely, cannot keep on thrashing the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.
Perhaps there is another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.
This could contain the possibility of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
However, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would be third at Christmas. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential England player.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
Elena Hartwell is a multidisciplinary artist and educator passionate about fostering creative communities in London.