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It simply cannot go on. It makes no rational sense that it persists. And yet, it does.

A Historic Triumph Against the Odds

The Claret and Blue army arrived at Saturday's top-flight encounter at Chelsea looking to equal a club record of eleven consecutive wins, matching runs set in 1897 and 1914. For the opening hour, this feat seemed improbable, as the hosts controlled proceedings, took the lead, and could have added to their advantage. However, Chelsea have shown frailty with a lead, particularly at home, while Villa have cultivated a baffling knack of securing wins on the road from losing positions.

First, the striker leveled the scores, the ball cannoning in off his leg 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 campaign. The forward might believe a bit of luck was due, and there's no question the first goal involved a significant element of luck. At the moment, though, Lady Luck is smiling on Villa.

The Statistics Of an Unlikely Run

The last nine of these 11 straight wins were by a single goal. They have managed a clean sheet in only one of those matches. Their expected goals (xG) have been better in just six of those fixtures, and in two of those, the margin was minimal. Their last five road Premier League victories have all come after conceding first. This formula seems unsustainable, but observers have been saying that for weeks, and Villa continue winning. The central question is whether their outcomes will finally align with their displays or if their performances can improve to justify the results.

This should not be possible, but everybody's been stating that for a while and Villa keep on winning.

A Defining Trait: Belief

Coming from behind is not just a feature of this season. Over the past 3 seasons, no team has gained more points when trailing than Villa's fifty-four; 18 of those have been secured this season, fifty percent more than the next best team, Sunderland. This season, Villa players from the bench have scored nine goals. Two key observations can be made about Villa under Unai Emery.

• First, they possess a deep-rooted confidence that means no game ever feels insurmountable. This is, in part, a virtuous cycle: the more they come from behind, the more they believe they can do it once more.
• Second, Emery has proven exceptionally skilled at changing games through his use of the bench.

The Emery Effect

While Chelsea won the expected goals 2.1 to 1.4, Villa became dominant from the moment, just before the hour mark, when Emery executed a triple change. Watkins came on for Malen, who had struggled with limited service. Immediately, the ball began to stick, and Watkins's runs behind the defensive line caused problems. Onana and Jadon Sancho also entered, bolstering the midfield and providing the flank presence they had eschewed earlier.

The Blues registered ten attempts to Villa's none before the substitutions; following them, Villa created 11 chances to Chelsea's 4. By the final whistle, Villa were in control and could have won more comfortably. Not for the first time, opposing manager Enzo Maresca seemed unable to respond as the game turned against him; the impression remains that he is more proficient at devising a tactical plan with preparation time than making adjustments on the fly.

Moment of Magic

Villa have also developed a welcome habit of individuals producing moments of sensational quality to alter games. Morgan Rogers has been decisive at Leeds, West Ham, and against Manchester United. The image of him working the ball onto his right foot and whipping a finish home has become a recurring theme. It was Malen who changed the game from the bench at Leeds. The striker swung 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 whole side playing flawlessly, but enough individuals within it delivering to secure the victories.

The Road Ahead

Will they be able to maintain this run? They now sit three points behind Arsenal, and as the season approaches its midway point, they must be viewed as part of the title race, certainly more so than teams like Chelsea or reigning title holders Liverpool. The upcoming away game at Arsenal will be a major examination of that claim. Villa defeated Arsenal earlier this month, a match in which they not only won the xG but posted an xG 40% higher than any other side has managed against Arsenal in the league this season.

The Gunners have assembled their own sequence of narrow victories, winning three in a row without ever being entirely convincing. The upcoming clash 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 title credentials.