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It simply cannot continue. It makes no rational sense for it to persist. And yet, it does.

A Historic Victory Defying Expectations

Aston Villa entered the weekend's top-flight clash at Chelsea looking to equal a historic record of 11 consecutive wins, a feat last achieved in the distant past. For much of the match, this feat seemed highly unlikely, as Chelsea dominated proceedings, secured the lead, and could have added several more. But, Chelsea are frailty when ahead, especially at home, while Villa now possess a remarkable knack of securing away victories after falling behind.

First, Ollie Watkins equalised, the ball cannoning in off his shin and the post after his first effort was saved by the goalkeeper. Subsequently, he secured the decisive goal with a deft header. This marked just his fourth and fifth league goals of the season. The forward might feel a bit of luck was overdue, and it's undeniable the first goal had a large slice of good fortune. At the moment, though, fortune seems to be smiling on Villa.

The Statistics Behind an Implausible Streak

Nine of these eleven straight wins were by a single goal. They have kept a shutout in just one of those matches. Their underlying metrics have been better in just six of those encounters, and in two of those, the margin was minimal. Their last five away Premier League victories have all come from behind. This pattern should not, yet observers have been claiming that for some time, and Villa keep on winning. The key question is whether their outcomes will eventually match their displays or if their performances can improve to match the results.

This should not be possible, but everybody's been stating that for weeks and Villa continue winning.

A Core Trait: Resilience

Coming from behind is not just a trait of the current campaign. Over the past 3 seasons, no side has won more points from losing positions than Villa's fifty-four; Eighteen of those were secured this term, 50% more than the second-placed team, Sunderland. This season, Villa substitutes have scored nine goals. Two key points can be made about Villa under Unai Emery.

• Firstly, they possess a profound confidence that means no deficit ever feels beyond them. This is, in part, self-perpetuating: the more they come from behind, the more they are convinced they can do it once more.
• Secondly, Emery has proven exceptionally skilled at changing games through his substitutions.

The Emery Effect

While Chelsea had the better of the expected goals 2.1 to 1.4, Villa were the dominant force from the moment, around the hour mark, when Emery executed a triple change. Watkins came on for Malen, who had struggled with limited service. Suddenly, the ball was held up better, and Watkins's runs behind the defensive line caused problems. Amadou Onana and Jadon Sancho also came on, strengthening the midfield and providing the flank presence they had lacked earlier.

Chelsea had ten attempts to Villa's zero before the substitutions; following them, Villa had 11 chances to Chelsea's 4. By the final whistle, Villa were in control and could have won more comfortably. Once again, opposing manager Enzo Maresca struggled to respond as the game slipped away; the sense remains that he is better at implementing a game plan with preparation time than making adjustments on the fly.

Moment of Magic

Villa have also developed a happy habit of individuals producing moments of match-winning quality to turn games. Rogers has scored crucial goals at Leeds, West Ham, and against Manchester United. The image 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 transformed the game after coming on at Leeds. Watkins changed the game at Stamford Bridge. The contributions of players such as Ezri Konsa and Lindelof on Saturday were key. At present, it's not always the entire team playing flawlessly, but sufficient individuals within it delivering to earn the victories.

What Comes Next?

Will they be able to maintain this run? They now sit three points behind Arsenal, and as the season nears its halfway stage, they have to be viewed as in the title race, arguably more so than club world champions Chelsea or defending champions Liverpool. Tuesday's away fixture 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 posted an xG forty percent higher than any other side has achieved against Arsenal in the league this season.

Arsenal have assembled their own sequence of single-goal victories, winning three in a row without ever being entirely convincing. The upcoming clash will be a test for both sides – and if Villa win a 12th game in a row, it would become almost impossible to deny their championship pedigree.