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

A Record-Chasing Victory Defying Expectations

Aston Villa entered Saturday's Premier League encounter 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 dominated proceedings, took the lead, and might have added several more. However, Chelsea have shown vulnerability when ahead, particularly at home, while Villa now possess a remarkable knack of securing away victories after falling behind.

First, the striker equalised, the ball cannoning in off his shin and the post after his first effort was blocked by Robert Sánchez. Later on, he nodded in the decisive goal with a precise header. These were just his fourth and fifth league goals of the season. The forward might believe some fortune was due, and there's no question the first goal had a large slice of luck. Currently, though, fortune is favoring Villa.

The Statistics Of an Implausible Run

Nine of these eleven straight wins have been by a single goal. They have kept a shutout in just one of those matches. Their expected goals (xG) have been superior in just six of those fixtures, and in a couple of those, the advantage was minimal. Their last five road Premier League victories have all come after conceding first. This formula should not, yet pundits have been claiming that for weeks, and Villa keep on winning. The central question is whether their outcomes will finally align with their displays or if their level of play can rise to justify the results.

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

A Core Characteristic: Resilience

Coming from behind is not merely a trait of this season. Over the past 3 seasons, no team has won more points when trailing than Villa's fifty-four; Eighteen of those have been secured this season, 50% more than the second-placed team, Sunderland. This season, Villa players from the bench have contributed 9 goals. Two important observations can be made about Villa under their manager.

• First, they possess a profound self-belief that means no game ever feels insurmountable. This is, in part, self-perpetuating: the more they achieve comebacks, the more they believe they can do it once more.
• Secondly, Emery has proven exceptionally adept at influencing games through his substitutions.

The Emery Effect

While Chelsea won the expected goals 2.1-1.4, Villa became dominant from the moment, around the hour mark, when Emery executed a triple change. Ollie Watkins came on for Malen, who had found it difficult with few chances. Suddenly, the ball was held up better, and Watkins's movement behind the defensive line created issues. Onana and Sancho also entered, bolstering the midfield and adding the width they had eschewed earlier.

The Blues registered 10 shots to Villa's zero before the substitutions; following them, Villa created 11 chances to Chelsea's 4. By the end, Villa were commanding and could have won more comfortably. Once again, opposing manager Maresca struggled to react as the game turned against him; the sense remains that he is more proficient at implementing a tactical plan with preparation time than adapting 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 into the top corner has become a seasonal theme. It was Malen who changed the game after coming on at Leeds. Watkins changed the game at Stamford Bridge. The contributions of players such as Ezri Konsa and Lindelof on Saturday were also vital. At present, 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 Arsenal, and as the season approaches its halfway stage, they must be viewed as in the championship conversation, arguably more so than club world champions Chelsea or reigning title holders Liverpool. The upcoming away game at Arsenal will be a significant examination of that status. 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.

The Gunners have assembled their own run of narrow victories, winning three in a row without ever being wholly convincing. The upcoming clash will be a challenge for both sides – and if Villa secure a twelfth game in a row, it would become almost impossible to deny their championship pedigree.