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It simply cannot continue. It makes no rational sense for it to persist. And yet, it does.

A Record-Chasing Victory Defying Expectations

Aston Villa entered the weekend's Premier League clash at Chelsea aiming for a club record of eleven consecutive wins, a feat last achieved in 1897 and 1914. For the opening hour, achieving it seemed highly unlikely, as the hosts dominated proceedings, took the lead, and could have added several more. But, Chelsea have shown frailty when ahead, especially at home, while Villa now possess a baffling habit of snatching away victories after falling behind.

First, Ollie Watkins equalised, the ball cannoning in off his leg and the post after his initial shot was blocked by Robert Sánchez. Subsequently, he nodded in the decisive goal with a deft header. These were just his fourth and fifth league goals of the season. The forward might feel some fortune was overdue, and it's undeniable the first goal involved a large slice of luck. At the moment, though, Lady Luck is favoring Villa.

The Numbers Of an Unlikely Run

Nine of these 11 straight wins were by a solitary goal. They have kept a clean sheet in just one of those matches. Their underlying metrics have been superior in just six of those encounters, and in a couple of those, the margin was minimal. Their last five away Premier League victories have all come from behind. 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 eventually align with their performances or if their performances can rise to justify the points haul.

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

A Defining Trait: Resilience

Fighting back is not just a feature of this season. Over the past three seasons, no side has gained more points when trailing than Villa's 54; 18 of those were secured this season, 50% more than the second-placed team, Sunderland. This season, Villa substitutes have contributed 9 goals. Two important observations 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, to an extent, self-perpetuating: the more they come from behind, the more they believe they can do it again.
• Secondly, Emery has proven very skilled at changing games with his use of the bench.

A Masterful Change

While Chelsea had the better of the xG battle 2.1 to 1.4, Villa were the dominant force from the moment, around the hour mark, when Emery executed a triple change. Watkins replaced Donyell Malen, who had struggled with limited service. Suddenly, the ball began to stick, and Watkins's movement behind the defensive line caused problems. Onana and Jadon Sancho also entered, strengthening the center and providing the flank presence they had eschewed earlier.

The Blues registered ten attempts to Villa's zero before the changes; following them, Villa had 11 chances to Chelsea's four. By the final whistle, Villa were in control and could have won more comfortably. Not for the first time, opposing manager Maresca seemed unable to respond as the game turned against him; the sense remains that he is more proficient at implementing a game plan with preparation time than adapting on the fly.

Moment of Magic

Villa have cultivated a welcome habit of players producing pieces of sensational quality to alter games. Rogers has scored crucial goals at Leeds, West Ham, and against Manchester United. The sight of him working the ball onto his favored foot and curling a finish into the top corner has become a seasonal theme. It was the winger who transformed the game from the bench at Leeds. The striker swung the game at Stamford Bridge. The performances of defenders like Ezri Konsa and Viktor Lindelof on Saturday were key. Right now, it's not always the entire team playing flawlessly, but enough individuals within it stepping up to earn the victories.

The Road Ahead

Will they be able to keep going? They now sit three points behind the league leaders, and as the season nears its halfway stage, they have to be viewed as part of the championship conversation, certainly more so than club world champions Chelsea or defending champions Liverpool. Tuesday's away game at Arsenal will be a significant examination of that claim. Villa defeated Arsenal earlier this month, a match in which they not only won the xG but registered an xG forty percent higher than any other side has managed against Arsenal in the league this season.

Arsenal have assembled their own run of narrow victories, winning three in a row without ever being wholly convincing. Tuesday will be a challenge for both sides – and if Villa secure a 12th game in a row, it would become increasingly difficult to deny their championship pedigree.