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

A Historic Triumph Against the Odds

Aston Villa entered Saturday's Premier League encounter at Chelsea aiming for a club record of 11 consecutive wins, a feat last achieved in the distant past. For much of the match, achieving it seemed improbable, as the hosts controlled proceedings, secured the lead, and might have added to their advantage. However, Chelsea are frailty with a lead, especially at home, while Villa have cultivated a baffling knack of securing away victories after falling behind.

First, Ollie Watkins leveled the scores, the ball cannoning in off his leg and the post following his first effort was saved by Robert Sánchez. Later on, he secured the winner with a precise header. This marked just his fourth and fifth league goals of the season. Watkins might believe a bit of luck was due, and there's no question the equalizing goal had a significant element of luck. At the moment, however, fortune seems to be smiling on Villa.

The Statistics Behind an Unlikely Streak

The last nine of these 11 straight wins were by a single goal. They have managed a shutout in just one of those games. Their underlying metrics have been superior in only six of those fixtures, and in a couple of those, the advantage was minimal. Their last five road Premier League victories have all come from behind. This formula seems unsustainable, but observers have been saying that for some time, and Villa continue winning. The central question is whether their outcomes will eventually match their displays or if their performances can improve to justify the results.

This seems unsustainable be sustainable, but everyone has been saying that for a while and Villa continue winning.

A Core Trait: Resilience

Coming from behind is not merely a feature of this season. Over the past three seasons, no team has gained more points from losing positions than Villa's fifty-four; 18 of those have been secured this season, 50% more than the next best team, Sunderland. This season, Villa substitutes have scored 9 goals. Two important observations can be made about Villa under their manager.

• First, they possess a profound confidence that means no game ever feels insurmountable. This is, to an extent, self-perpetuating: the more they come from behind, the more they are convinced they can do it again.
• Second, Emery has proven exceptionally skilled at changing games with his substitutions.

A Masterful Change

While Chelsea had the better of the expected goals 2.1 to 1.4, Villa became dominant from the moment, just before the hour mark, when Emery executed a triple substitution. Watkins replaced Donyell Malen, who had struggled with limited service. Immediately, the ball began to stick, and Watkins's movement in behind caused problems. Onana and Sancho also entered, strengthening the midfield and providing the width they had lacked earlier.

The Blues registered 10 shots to Villa's zero before the substitutions; following them, Villa created 11 chances to Chelsea's four. By the final whistle, Villa were commanding and could easily 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 more proficient at devising a tactical plan with time to prepare than adapting in the moment.

Individual Brilliance

Villa have cultivated a welcome habit of players producing moments of sensational quality to alter games. Rogers has been decisive at Leeds, West Ham, and against Manchester United. The image of him shifting the ball onto his favored foot and whipping a finish into the top corner has become a recurring theme. 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 Viktor Lindelof on Saturday were key. At present, it's seldom the entire team playing brilliantly, but enough individuals within it stepping up to earn the victories.

What Comes Next?

Will they be able to maintain this run? They now sit three points behind the league leaders, and as the season approaches its midway point, they have to be considered as in the championship conversation, arguably more so than teams like Chelsea or reigning title holders Liverpool. Tuesday's 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 registered an xG forty percent higher than any other side has managed against Arsenal in the league this season.

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