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This surely should not continue. It makes no rational sense that it persists. And yet, it does.

A Historic Triumph Defying Expectations

The Claret and Blue army arrived at Saturday's top-flight clash at Chelsea aiming for a club record of 11 consecutive wins, a feat last achieved in 1897 and 1914. For the opening hour, achieving it seemed highly unlikely, as the hosts dominated proceedings, secured the lead, and could have added several more. However, 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, Ollie Watkins equalised, the ball cannoning in off his shin and the post following his first effort 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 believe some fortune was overdue, and there's no question the first goal had a significant element of luck. At the moment, however, fortune is smiling on Villa.

The Numbers Of an Implausible Run

Nine of these eleven straight wins have been by a solitary goal. They have managed a shutout in just one of those games. Their underlying metrics have been superior in only six of those encounters, and in a couple of those, the margin was 0.2 or less. Their last five away Premier League victories have all come from behind. This formula should not, but observers have been claiming that for weeks, and Villa continue winning. The key question is whether their results will finally match their displays or if their performances can rise to match the results.

This seems unsustainable be sustainable, but everyone has been stating that for a while and Villa keep on winning.

A Defining Characteristic: Belief

Coming from behind is not merely a trait of the current campaign. Over the past 3 seasons, no side has gained more points when trailing than Villa's 54; Eighteen of those have been secured this season, 50% more than the next best team, Sunderland. This season, Villa players from the bench have scored 9 goals. Two key points can be made about Villa under Unai Emery.

• First, 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 are convinced they can do it once more.
• Second, Emery has proven exceptionally skilled at influencing games through his substitutions.

A Masterful Change

While Chelsea won the xG battle 2.1 to 1.4, Villa became the dominant force from the moment, around the hour mark, when Emery executed a triple substitution. Ollie Watkins came on for Malen, who had found it difficult with limited service. Immediately, the ball was held up better, and Watkins's runs behind the defensive line created issues. Amadou Onana and Sancho also came on, strengthening the center and providing the flank presence they had eschewed earlier.

The Blues registered 10 shots to Villa's none before the changes; following them, Villa created eleven opportunities to Chelsea's 4. By the final whistle, Villa were commanding and could easily have won more comfortably. Once again, opposing manager Enzo Maresca seemed unable to react as the game turned against him; the sense remains that he is more proficient at implementing a tactical plan with preparation time than adapting on the fly.

Moment of Magic

Villa have also developed a welcome habit of individuals producing moments of sensational quality to turn games. Morgan Rogers has been decisive at Leeds, West Ham, and against Manchester United. The sight of him working the ball onto his favored foot and curling a finish into the top corner has become a recurring leitmotif. It was the winger who transformed the game from the bench at Leeds. The striker changed the game at Stamford Bridge. The performances of players such as Konsa and Lindelof on Saturday were key. At present, it's seldom the whole side playing brilliantly, but sufficient players within it delivering to earn the victories.

The Road Ahead

Can they keep going? They now sit three points behind the league leaders, and as the season approaches its midway point, they must be considered as part of the championship conversation, certainly more so than teams like Chelsea or reigning title holders Liverpool. The upcoming away fixture at Arsenal will be a major test of that status. Villa beat Arsenal on the first weekend of December, 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.

Arsenal have assembled their own sequence of narrow victories, winning three in a row without ever being wholly convincing. Tuesday will be a test for both teams – and if Villa win a twelfth game in a row, it would become almost impossible to dismiss their title credentials.