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This surely should not go on. It makes no rational sense for it to persist. Yet, persist it does.

A Record-Chasing Triumph Defying Expectations

The Claret and Blue army arrived at the weekend's top-flight clash at Chelsea aiming for a historic record of 11 consecutive wins, a feat last achieved in 1897 and 1914. For the opening hour, this feat seemed highly unlikely, as Chelsea dominated proceedings, took the lead, and might have added several more. But, Chelsea have shown vulnerability when ahead, especially at home, while Villa now possess a remarkable knack of securing away victories from losing positions.

First, the striker leveled the scores, the ball cannoning in off his shin and the post following his initial shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. Later on, he nodded in the decisive goal with a precise header. This marked just his fourth and fifth league goals of the campaign. Watkins might believe some fortune was overdue, and there's no question the equalizing goal had a significant element of luck. Currently, though, 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 kept a shutout in just one of those matches. Their expected goals (xG) have been superior in just six of those fixtures, and in two of those, the advantage was minimal. Their last five away Premier League victories have all come from behind. This pattern seems unsustainable, yet pundits have been claiming that for weeks, and Villa continue winning. The central question is whether their results will eventually match their displays or if their performances can rise to match the results.

This seems unsustainable be possible, but everyone has been saying that for a while and Villa keep on winning.

A Core Characteristic: Resilience

Fighting back is not just a trait of the current campaign. Over the past three seasons, no team has won more points from losing positions than Villa's 54; 18 of those were secured this term, 50% more than the next best team, Sunderland. This season, Villa players from the bench have scored nine 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 insurmountable. This is, to an extent, self-perpetuating: the more they come from behind, the more they are convinced they can do it again.
• Second, Emery has proven exceptionally adept at changing games with his use of the bench.

A Masterful Change

While Chelsea had the better of 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. Ollie Watkins came on for Donyell Malen, who had found it difficult with limited service. Immediately, the ball began to stick, and Watkins's runs in behind caused problems. Amadou Onana and Sancho also entered, bolstering the center and adding the width they had eschewed earlier.

The Blues registered ten attempts to Villa's zero before the substitutions; afterwards, Villa created eleven opportunities to Chelsea's 4. By the final whistle, Villa were commanding and could have won more comfortably. Not for the first time, opposing manager Maresca seemed unable to respond as the game slipped away; the sense remains that he is more proficient at implementing a tactical plan with time to prepare than making adjustments in the moment.

Moment of Magic

Villa have also developed a welcome habit of individuals producing moments of sensational quality to alter games. Rogers has been decisive at Leeds, West Ham, and against Manchester United. The image of him shifting the ball onto his favored foot and whipping a finish into the top corner has become a seasonal theme. It was the winger who changed the game after coming on at Leeds. Watkins changed the game at Stamford Bridge. The contributions of defenders like 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 maintain this run? They now sit three points behind Arsenal, and as the season nears its halfway stage, they must be considered as in the championship conversation, arguably more so than club world champions Chelsea or reigning title holders Liverpool. Tuesday's away game at Arsenal will be a major test of that claim. Villa defeated Arsenal on the first weekend of December, a match in which they not only won the xG but registered an xG forty percent higher than any other side has achieved against Arsenal in the league this season.

Arsenal have since put together their own run of single-goal victories, winning three in a row without ever being wholly convincing. Tuesday will be a test for both sides – and if Villa secure a 12th game in a row, it would become increasingly difficult to dismiss their championship pedigree.