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It simply cannot go on. The logic defies sense that it persists. Yet, persist it does.

A Historic Triumph Against the Odds

The Claret and Blue army arrived at the weekend's top-flight clash at Chelsea looking to equal a club record of eleven consecutive wins, matching runs set in the distant past. For the opening hour, achieving it seemed highly unlikely, as Chelsea controlled proceedings, secured the lead, and might have added to their advantage. But, Chelsea are vulnerability with a lead, especially at home, while Villa now possess a baffling habit of snatching wins on the road after falling behind.

First, Ollie Watkins equalised, the ball ricocheting in off his leg and the post following his first effort was saved by Robert Sánchez. Later on, he secured the winner with a deft header. This marked just his fourth and fifth league goals of the campaign. The forward might believe a bit of luck was due, and it's undeniable the first goal had a significant element of good fortune. Currently, however, fortune seems to be favoring Villa.

The Numbers Behind an Unlikely Streak

The last nine of these eleven straight wins have been by a solitary goal. They have managed a shutout in just one of those matches. Their underlying metrics have been superior in just six of those fixtures, and in two of those, the advantage was minimal. Their last five road Premier League victories have all come after conceding first. This formula seems unsustainable, but pundits have been saying that for weeks, and Villa keep on winning. The central question is whether their outcomes will eventually align with their displays or if their performances can rise to match the points haul.

This seems unsustainable be sustainable, but everyone has been saying that for weeks and Villa keep on winning.

A Defining Trait: Resilience

Fighting back is not merely a feature of the current campaign. Over the past three seasons, no team has won more points from losing positions than Villa's 54; Eighteen of those were secured this season, fifty percent more than the second-placed team, Sunderland. This season, Villa substitutes have contributed 9 goals. Two important points can be made about Villa under their manager.

• Firstly, they possess a profound self-belief 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 very adept at influencing games through his substitutions.

A Masterful Change

While Chelsea had the better of the xG battle 2.1 to 1.4, Villa were dominant from the moment, just before the hour mark, when Emery made a triple change. Watkins came on for Malen, who had found it difficult with few chances. Immediately, the ball began to stick, and Watkins's movement in behind created issues. Onana and Sancho also came on, bolstering the midfield and providing the width they had eschewed earlier.

Chelsea had ten attempts to Villa's none before the changes; following them, Villa had eleven opportunities to Chelsea's four. By the final whistle, Villa were in control and could easily have won more comfortably. Not for the first time, opposing manager Enzo Maresca seemed unable to react as the game turned against him; the impression remains that he is more proficient at implementing a tactical plan with preparation time than making adjustments in the moment.

Moment of Magic

Villa have also developed a happy habit of players producing pieces of sensational quality to alter games. Morgan 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 seasonal theme. It was Malen who changed the game after coming on at Leeds. The striker swung the game at Stamford Bridge. The performances of players such as Ezri Konsa and Lindelof on Saturday were key. At present, it's seldom the whole side playing brilliantly, but sufficient individuals within it delivering to secure the victories.

The Road Ahead

Can they maintain this run? They now sit three points behind Arsenal, and as the season approaches its midway point, 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 game at Arsenal will be a significant examination of that claim. Villa defeated Arsenal earlier this month, a match in which they not only had better the xG but posted an xG 40% higher than any other side has achieved against Arsenal in the league this term.

The Gunners have since put together their own sequence of single-goal victories, winning 3 in a row without ever being entirely convincing. Tuesday will be a challenge for both sides – and if Villa secure a twelfth game in a row, it would become increasingly difficult to deny their championship pedigree.