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This surely should not go on. It makes no rational sense that it persists. Yet, persist it does.

A Historic Triumph Against the Odds

The Claret and Blue army arrived at Saturday's top-flight clash at Chelsea aiming for a club record of 11 consecutive wins, matching runs set in the distant past. For the opening hour, this feat seemed improbable, as Chelsea controlled proceedings, secured the lead, and might have added several more. But, Chelsea have shown frailty with a lead, particularly at home, while Villa have cultivated a remarkable habit of snatching wins on the road after falling behind.

First, the striker equalised, the ball ricocheting in off his shin and the post following his initial shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Later on, he secured the decisive goal with a precise header. This marked just his fourth and fifth league goals of the season. The forward might feel a bit of luck was due, and it's undeniable the equalizing goal involved a significant element of luck. Currently, though, fortune seems to be smiling on Villa.

The Statistics Behind an Implausible Run

The last nine of these 11 straight wins were by a single goal. They have kept a shutout in only one of those games. Their underlying metrics have been better in only six of those encounters, and in a couple of those, the advantage was 0.2 or less. Their last five away Premier League victories have all come after conceding first. This pattern should not, but pundits have been saying that for weeks, and Villa continue winning. The central question is whether their outcomes will eventually match their performances or if their performances can rise to match the results.

This seems unsustainable be sustainable, but everybody's been stating that for a while and Villa continue winning.

A Core Trait: Resilience

Fighting back is not merely a feature of this season. Over the past 3 seasons, no team has won more points from losing positions than Villa's 54; 18 of those were secured this season, fifty percent more than the next best team, Sunderland. This season, Villa players from the bench have contributed 9 goals. Two important observations can be made about Villa under their manager.

• Firstly, they possess a profound confidence that means no deficit ever feels beyond them. This is, to an extent, a virtuous cycle: the more they come from behind, the more they believe they can do it again.
• Second, Emery has proven exceptionally skilled at changing games with his use of the bench.

A Masterful Change

While Chelsea won the xG battle 2.1-1.4, Villa became the dominant force from the moment, just before the hour mark, when Emery made a triple substitution. Watkins came on for Donyell Malen, who had found it difficult with few chances. Suddenly, the ball began to stick, and Watkins's runs behind the defensive line created issues. Onana and Jadon Sancho also came on, strengthening the center and adding the flank presence they had lacked earlier.

Chelsea had 10 shots to Villa's zero before the substitutions; following them, Villa had 11 chances to Chelsea's 4. By the final whistle, Villa were commanding and could have won more comfortably. Not for the first time, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca seemed unable to respond as the game turned against him; the sense remains that he is better at implementing a tactical plan with preparation time than adapting in the moment.

Moment of Magic

Villa have cultivated a happy habit of individuals producing moments of sensational quality to alter games. Rogers has scored crucial goals at Leeds, West Ham, and against Manchester United. The sight of him shifting the ball onto his favored foot and whipping a finish into the top corner has become a recurring leitmotif. It was Malen who changed the game after coming on at Leeds. The striker changed the game at Stamford Bridge. The contributions of defenders like Ezri Konsa and Lindelof on Saturday were also vital. At present, it's not always the entire team playing flawlessly, but enough players within it stepping up to secure the victories.

The Road Ahead

Can they maintain this run? They now sit three points behind Arsenal, and as the season nears its halfway stage, they have to be considered as part of the title race, certainly more so than club world champions Chelsea or defending champions Liverpool. The upcoming away game at Arsenal will be a significant test of that claim. Villa beat Arsenal on the first weekend of December, a match in which they not only had better the xG but posted an xG forty percent higher than any other side has managed against Arsenal in the league this term.

Arsenal have assembled their own run of single-goal victories, winning 3 in a row without ever being wholly convincing. Tuesday will be a challenge for both sides – and if Villa win a 12th game in a row, it would become increasingly difficult to deny their title credentials.