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This surely should not continue. The logic defies 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 looking to equal a club record of 11 consecutive wins, matching runs set in 1897 and 1914. For the opening hour, achieving it seemed highly unlikely, as the hosts controlled proceedings, secured the lead, and might have added several more. However, Chelsea have shown vulnerability 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 ricocheting in off his shin and the post following his initial shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. Subsequently, he secured the decisive goal with a deft header. These were just his fourth and fifth league goals of the campaign. Watkins might believe some fortune was due, and there's no question the first goal had a large slice of luck. Currently, however, Lady Luck is smiling on Villa.

The Statistics Of an Implausible Run

Nine of these eleven straight wins have been by a solitary goal. They have managed a shutout in only one of those matches. Their underlying metrics have been better in only six of those encounters, and in a couple of those, the advantage was minimal. Their last five away Premier League victories have all come after conceding first. This pattern should not, but pundits have been claiming that for weeks, and Villa keep on winning. The key question is whether their results will finally match their displays or if their level of play can improve to match the results.

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

A Core Trait: Resilience

Fighting back is not just a feature of the current campaign. Over the past 3 seasons, no team has won more points from losing positions than Villa's 54; 18 of those have been secured this season, fifty percent more than the second-placed team, Sunderland. This season, Villa substitutes have scored nine goals. Two important points can be made about Villa under Unai Emery.

• Firstly, they possess a profound self-belief that means no deficit ever feels beyond them. This is, in part, a virtuous cycle: the more they come from behind, the more they are convinced they can do it once more.
• Secondly, Emery has proven exceptionally skilled at changing games through his use of the bench.

A Masterful Change

While Chelsea won the xG battle 2.1-1.4, Villa were the dominant force from the moment, around the hour mark, when Emery made a triple change. Ollie Watkins replaced Donyell Malen, who had found it difficult with limited service. Immediately, the ball was held up better, and Watkins's movement in behind created issues. Onana and Jadon Sancho also came on, strengthening the center and providing the flank presence they had lacked earlier.

Chelsea had ten attempts to Villa's none before the substitutions; following them, Villa had eleven opportunities to Chelsea's 4. By the final whistle, Villa were in control and could have won by a greater margin. Not for the first time, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca struggled to react as the game slipped away; the impression remains that he is better at implementing a game plan with preparation time than adapting on the fly.

Individual Brilliance

Villa have also developed a happy habit of players 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 favored foot and whipping a finish into the top corner has become a recurring leitmotif. It was Malen who changed 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 also vital. At present, it's not always the whole side playing brilliantly, but sufficient individuals within it stepping up to secure 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 have to be viewed as part of the title race, certainly more so than club world champions Chelsea or defending champions Liverpool. Tuesday's away game at Arsenal will be a major test of that claim. Villa beat Arsenal earlier this month, a match in which they not only had better the xG but registered an xG 40% higher than any other side has managed against Arsenal in the league this season.

Arsenal have assembled their own run of single-goal victories, winning 3 in a row without ever being wholly convincing. Tuesday will be a challenge for both sides – and if Villa win a twelfth game in a row, it would become almost impossible to dismiss their title credentials.