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This surely should not continue. The logic defies rational sense for it to persist. Yet, persist it does.

A Record-Chasing Victory Against the Odds

Aston Villa entered Saturday's Premier League encounter at Chelsea looking to equal a historic record of 11 consecutive wins, a feat last achieved in 1897 and 1914. For the opening hour, achieving it seemed improbable, as Chelsea controlled proceedings, secured the lead, and could have added to their advantage. However, Chelsea have shown frailty with a lead, especially at home, while Villa have cultivated a baffling knack of securing away victories after falling behind.

First, the striker leveled the scores, the ball cannoning in off his leg and the post after his first effort was blocked by Robert Sánchez. Subsequently, he secured the decisive goal with a precise header. This marked just his fourth and fifth league goals of the campaign. Watkins might believe some fortune was overdue, and it's undeniable the equalizing goal had a large slice of good fortune. At the moment, however, fortune seems to be favoring Villa.

The Numbers Behind an Implausible Run

The last nine of these 11 straight wins were by a single goal. They have kept a clean sheet in only one of those games. Their expected goals (xG) have been better in just six of those fixtures, 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, but pundits have been saying that for some time, and Villa keep on winning. The key question is whether their results will eventually match their displays or if their level of play can improve to justify the results.

This seems unsustainable be sustainable, but everybody's been stating that for a while and Villa keep on winning.

A Core Trait: Resilience

Coming from behind is not merely a feature of the current campaign. Over the past three seasons, no side has won more points from losing positions than Villa's fifty-four; 18 of those have been secured this term, fifty percent more than the second-placed 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 deep-rooted confidence that means no deficit ever feels beyond them. This is, in part, a virtuous cycle: the more they achieve comebacks, the more they believe they can do it once more.
• Secondly, Emery has proven very adept at influencing games through his substitutions.

The Emery Effect

While Chelsea won the expected goals 2.1 to 1.4, Villa became dominant from the moment, around the hour mark, when Emery executed a triple change. Ollie Watkins replaced Malen, who had struggled with few chances. Suddenly, the ball was held up better, and Watkins's runs behind the defensive line created issues. Onana and Sancho also entered, strengthening the center and adding the width they had eschewed earlier.

The Blues registered ten attempts to Villa's none before the substitutions; following them, Villa had eleven opportunities to Chelsea's four. By the end, Villa were in control and could have won by a greater margin. Not for the first time, Chelsea boss Maresca struggled 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 adapting in the moment.

Individual Brilliance

Villa have cultivated a happy 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 working the ball onto his right foot and curling a finish home has become a recurring leitmotif. It was the winger who transformed the game after coming on at Leeds. The striker changed the game at Stamford Bridge. The performances of players such as Ezri Konsa and Viktor Lindelof on Saturday were key. Right now, it's not always the whole side playing brilliantly, but sufficient individuals within it delivering to secure the victories.

What Comes Next?

Can they keep going? They now sit three points behind the league leaders, and as the season nears its halfway stage, they have to be viewed as part of the title race, certainly more so than club world champions Chelsea or reigning title holders Liverpool. The upcoming away game at Arsenal will be a major examination of that status. 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 managed against Arsenal in the league this term.

The Gunners have assembled their own run of single-goal victories, winning three in a row without ever being wholly convincing. Tuesday will be a challenge for both teams – and if Villa win a twelfth game in a row, it would become almost impossible to deny their title credentials.