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This surely should not go on. It makes no rational sense for it to persist. And yet, it does.

A Historic Triumph Defying Expectations

Aston Villa entered Saturday's Premier League clash at Chelsea aiming for a club record of eleven consecutive wins, matching runs set in the distant past. For the opening hour, achieving it seemed highly unlikely, as the hosts controlled proceedings, secured the lead, and could have added several more. However, Chelsea have shown vulnerability when ahead, particularly at home, while Villa now possess a baffling habit of securing away victories after falling behind.

First, the striker leveled the scores, the ball ricocheting in off his shin and the post following his initial shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Subsequently, he nodded in the decisive goal with a precise header. This marked just his fourth and fifth league goals of the campaign. Watkins might feel a bit of luck was overdue, and there's no question the first goal involved a large slice of luck. Currently, however, fortune seems to be smiling on Villa.

The Statistics Of an Implausible Streak

The last nine of these 11 straight wins have been by a solitary goal. They have kept a shutout in just one of those games. Their expected goals (xG) have been better in just six of those encounters, and in a couple of those, the margin was 0.2 or less. Their last five road Premier League victories have all come from behind. This formula should not, yet observers have been claiming that for some time, and Villa continue winning. The central question is whether their outcomes will finally align with their displays or if their performances can rise to match the results.

This seems unsustainable be possible, but everybody's been stating that for weeks and Villa continue winning.

A Core Characteristic: Belief

Fighting back is not just a feature of the current campaign. Over the past 3 seasons, no side has gained more points when trailing than Villa's fifty-four; Eighteen of those were secured this season, fifty percent more than the next best team, Sunderland. This season, Villa substitutes have contributed nine goals. Two key observations can be made about Villa under their manager.

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

The Emery Effect

While Chelsea won the expected goals 2.1 to 1.4, Villa were dominant from the moment, just before the hour mark, when Emery executed a triple substitution. Watkins came on for Malen, who had found it difficult with limited service. Suddenly, the ball was held up better, and Watkins's runs behind the defensive line caused problems. Amadou Onana and Sancho also came on, bolstering the midfield and adding the width they had lacked earlier.

The Blues registered ten attempts to Villa's zero before the substitutions; afterwards, Villa created 11 chances to Chelsea's four. By the final whistle, Villa were in control and could have won more comfortably. Not for the first time, opposing manager Enzo Maresca struggled to respond as the game slipped away; the sense remains that he is more proficient at devising a tactical plan with preparation time than adapting on the fly.

Individual Brilliance

Villa have also developed a happy habit of players producing moments of sensational quality to turn games. Morgan Rogers has scored crucial goals at Leeds, West Ham, and against Manchester United. The sight of him shifting the ball onto his right foot and curling a finish into the top corner has become a seasonal leitmotif. It was Malen who changed the game from the bench at Leeds. Watkins swung the game at Stamford Bridge. The performances of defenders like Ezri Konsa and Lindelof on Saturday were also vital. Right now, it's not always the whole side playing flawlessly, but enough players within it delivering to earn the victories.

The Road Ahead

Can they maintain this run? They now sit three points behind the league leaders, and as the season approaches its midway point, they must be considered as in the championship conversation, certainly more so than teams like Chelsea or reigning title holders Liverpool. The upcoming away game at Arsenal will be a significant examination of that claim. Villa defeated Arsenal on the first weekend of December, a match in which they not only had better the xG but registered an xG 40% higher than any other side has managed against Arsenal in the league this season.

The Gunners have since put together their own sequence of narrow victories, winning 3 in a row without ever being wholly convincing. The upcoming clash will be a challenge for both teams – and if Villa win a 12th game in a row, it would become increasingly difficult to deny their championship pedigree.