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This surely should not continue. The logic defies sense that it persists. And yet, it does.

A Record-Chasing Victory Against the Odds

The Claret and Blue army arrived at Saturday's top-flight encounter at Chelsea aiming for a club record of eleven consecutive wins, a feat last achieved in the distant past. For much of the match, this feat seemed highly unlikely, as Chelsea controlled proceedings, secured the lead, and could have added several more. But, Chelsea are vulnerability when ahead, especially at home, while Villa now possess a remarkable knack of securing wins on the road after falling behind.

First, the striker leveled the scores, the ball cannoning in off his shin and the post after his initial shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. Later on, he nodded in the decisive goal with a precise header. These were just his fourth and fifth league goals of the season. Watkins might feel a bit of luck was due, and it's undeniable the equalizing goal involved a large slice of good fortune. Currently, though, Lady Luck is favoring Villa.

The Numbers Behind an Unlikely Streak

The last nine of these eleven straight wins have been 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 encounters, and in a couple of those, the advantage was 0.2 or less. Their last five away Premier League victories have all come from behind. This pattern seems unsustainable, yet observers have been claiming that for weeks, and Villa keep on winning. The key question is whether their outcomes will eventually align with their performances or if their performances can improve to match the points haul.

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

A Core Trait: Resilience

Fighting back is not merely a trait of the current campaign. Over the past three seasons, no side has gained more points when trailing than Villa's fifty-four; 18 of those were secured this term, fifty percent more than the second-placed team, Sunderland. This season, Villa players from the bench have contributed nine goals. Two key points can be made about Villa under Unai Emery.

• First, they possess a deep-rooted self-belief that means no deficit ever feels insurmountable. This is, in part, self-perpetuating: the more they come from behind, the more they believe they can do it once more.
• Second, Emery has proven exceptionally skilled at influencing games with his substitutions.

The Emery Effect

While Chelsea won the expected goals 2.1 to 1.4, Villa were dominant from the moment, just before the hour mark, when Emery made a triple change. Watkins came on for Donyell Malen, who had found it difficult with few chances. Immediately, the ball was held up better, and Watkins's movement in behind created issues. Amadou Onana and Jadon Sancho also came on, bolstering the midfield and providing the width they had eschewed earlier.

The Blues registered ten attempts to Villa's none before the substitutions; following them, Villa created eleven opportunities to Chelsea's 4. By the final whistle, Villa were commanding and could easily have won by a greater margin. Not for the first time, Chelsea boss Maresca seemed unable to respond as the game slipped away; the sense remains that he is better at devising a tactical plan with preparation time than adapting on the fly.

Individual Brilliance

Villa have also developed a welcome habit of individuals producing pieces of match-winning quality to alter 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 whipping a finish home has become a recurring theme. It was the winger who transformed the game after coming on at Leeds. The striker swung the game at Stamford Bridge. The contributions of players such as Ezri Konsa and Viktor Lindelof on Saturday were key. Right now, it's seldom the entire team playing flawlessly, but enough players within it stepping up to earn the victories.

What Comes Next?

Can they maintain this run? They now sit three points behind the league leaders, and as the season nears its midway point, they must be considered as part of the championship conversation, arguably more so than teams like Chelsea or defending champions Liverpool. The upcoming away fixture at Arsenal will be a significant examination of that status. Villa defeated Arsenal earlier this month, a match in which they not only won the xG but registered an xG 40% higher than any other side has achieved against Arsenal in the league this season.

Arsenal have assembled their own sequence of narrow victories, winning 3 in a row without ever being entirely convincing. The upcoming clash will be a test for both teams – and if Villa win a 12th game in a row, it would become increasingly difficult to deny their title credentials.