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

A Record-Chasing Victory Defying Expectations

Aston Villa entered the weekend's top-flight clash at Chelsea aiming for a historic record of eleven consecutive wins, a feat last achieved in the distant past. For the opening hour, achieving it seemed highly unlikely, as the hosts controlled proceedings, took the lead, and might have added several more. But, Chelsea are frailty when ahead, especially at home, while Villa have cultivated a baffling knack of securing away victories from losing positions.

First, the striker equalised, the ball cannoning in off his leg and the post after his initial shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Subsequently, he nodded in the winner with a deft header. This marked just his fourth and fifth league goals of the campaign. The forward might feel some fortune was overdue, and it's undeniable the first goal involved a significant element of luck. At the moment, however, Lady Luck seems to be favoring Villa.

The Numbers Behind an Unlikely Run

Nine of these 11 straight wins have been by a single goal. They have managed a clean sheet in just one of those games. Their underlying metrics have been better in only six of those fixtures, and in two 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, yet observers have been claiming that for weeks, and Villa continue winning. The key question is whether their outcomes will finally match their displays or if their performances can improve to match the results.

This should not be sustainable, but everyone has been stating that for weeks and Villa keep on winning.

A Defining Trait: Resilience

Coming from behind is not merely a trait of this season. Over the past three seasons, no team has won more points when trailing than Villa's 54; Eighteen of those have been secured this term, 50% more than the next best team, Sunderland. This season, Villa substitutes have contributed nine goals. Two important points 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, to an extent, a virtuous cycle: the more they achieve comebacks, the more they are convinced they can do it once more.
• Second, Emery has proven exceptionally skilled at influencing games through his use of the bench.

A Masterful Change

While Chelsea won the xG battle 2.1-1.4, Villa became dominant 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 few chances. Immediately, the ball began to stick, and Watkins's movement behind the defensive line created issues. Amadou Onana and Jadon Sancho also entered, bolstering the center and adding the flank presence they had eschewed earlier.

The Blues registered 10 shots to Villa's none before the changes; afterwards, Villa had eleven opportunities to Chelsea's 4. By the final whistle, Villa were commanding and could have won by a greater margin. Once again, opposing manager Maresca seemed unable to react as the game turned against him; the sense remains that he is better 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 individuals 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 right foot and whipping a finish home has become a recurring leitmotif. It was Malen who changed the game from the bench at Leeds. The striker swung the game at Stamford Bridge. The performances of players such as Ezri Konsa and Lindelof on Saturday were key. Right now, it's seldom the whole side playing flawlessly, but enough individuals within it stepping up to secure the victories.

What Comes Next?

Will they be able to keep going? They now sit three points behind Arsenal, and as the season approaches its midway point, they have to be considered as in the title race, 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 won the xG but registered an xG forty percent higher than any other side has achieved against Arsenal in the league this season.

The Gunners have assembled their own run of single-goal victories, winning 3 in a row without ever being wholly convincing. Tuesday will be a test for both teams – and if Villa secure a twelfth game in a row, it would become increasingly difficult to dismiss their championship pedigree.