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It simply cannot go on. The logic defies rational sense for it to persist. And yet, it does.

A Record-Chasing Triumph Defying Expectations

The Claret and Blue army arrived at the weekend's Premier League clash at Chelsea looking to equal a club record of 11 consecutive wins, a feat last achieved in 1897 and 1914. For the opening hour, achieving it seemed improbable, as Chelsea controlled proceedings, secured the lead, and might have added to their advantage. But, Chelsea are vulnerability when ahead, particularly at home, while Villa have cultivated a baffling knack of snatching away victories from losing positions.

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 winner with a precise header. These were just his fourth and fifth league goals of the season. Watkins might feel some fortune was overdue, and there's no question the equalizing goal involved a significant element of good fortune. At the moment, though, fortune seems to be smiling on Villa.

The Numbers Of an Implausible Streak

Nine of these eleven straight wins were by a single goal. They have kept a clean sheet in only one of those matches. Their underlying metrics have been better in just six of those fixtures, and in a couple of those, the advantage was 0.2 or less. Their last five road Premier League victories have all come from behind. This pattern should not, but observers have been saying that for some time, and Villa keep on winning. The central question is whether their outcomes will eventually align with their performances or if their level of play can improve to justify the points haul.

This should not be sustainable, but everybody's been stating that for a while and Villa continue winning.

A Defining Characteristic: Belief

Coming from behind is not merely a trait of this season. Over the past 3 seasons, no side has gained more points from losing positions than Villa's fifty-four; Eighteen of those have been secured this season, fifty percent more than the second-placed team, Sunderland. This season, Villa substitutes have contributed 9 goals. Two key points 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, a virtuous cycle: the more they come from behind, the more they are convinced they can do it once more.
• Second, Emery has proven very adept at influencing games through his substitutions.

The Emery Effect

While Chelsea won the expected goals 2.1 to 1.4, Villa became the dominant force from the moment, just before the hour mark, when Emery executed a triple substitution. Ollie Watkins replaced Malen, who had found it difficult with limited service. Immediately, the ball was held up better, and Watkins's movement in behind caused problems. Amadou Onana and Sancho also came on, bolstering the midfield and adding the flank presence they had lacked 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 commanding and could easily have won more comfortably. Not for the first time, Chelsea boss Maresca struggled to react as the game slipped away; the sense remains that he is better at implementing a game plan with time to prepare than adapting in the moment.

Moment of Magic

Villa have also developed a welcome habit of individuals producing moments of match-winning quality to alter games. Morgan Rogers has scored crucial goals at Leeds, West Ham, and against Manchester United. The sight of him shifting the ball onto his right foot and curling a finish into the top corner has become a seasonal theme. It was the winger who changed the game after coming on at Leeds. The striker swung 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 players within it stepping up to secure the victories.

What Comes Next?

Can they keep going? They now sit three points behind the league leaders, and as the season nears its midway point, they have to be considered as in the championship conversation, arguably more so than club world champions Chelsea or reigning title holders Liverpool. The upcoming away fixture 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 had better the xG but posted an xG forty percent higher than any other side has achieved against Arsenal in the league this term.

The Gunners have since put together their own run of single-goal victories, winning 3 in a row without ever being entirely convincing. Tuesday will be a test for both teams – and if Villa win a 12th game in a row, it would become increasingly difficult to dismiss their title credentials.