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

A Historic Triumph Against the Odds

Aston Villa entered the weekend's Premier League clash at Chelsea looking to equal a club record of eleven consecutive wins, a feat last achieved in 1897 and 1914. For the opening hour, achieving it seemed improbable, as Chelsea controlled proceedings, took the lead, and could have added to their advantage. But, Chelsea are vulnerability with a lead, especially at home, while Villa now possess a remarkable knack of securing away victories after falling behind.

First, Ollie Watkins equalised, the ball ricocheting in off his leg and the post after his first effort was saved by the goalkeeper. Subsequently, he nodded in the decisive goal with a deft header. This marked just his fourth and fifth league goals of the season. The forward might believe a bit of luck was due, and it's undeniable the equalizing goal had a large slice of luck. Currently, though, Lady Luck is favoring Villa.

The Numbers Of an Implausible Run

Nine of these eleven straight wins were by a solitary goal. They have kept a clean sheet in just one of those games. Their underlying metrics have been superior in only 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 seems unsustainable, but pundits have been claiming that for some time, and Villa continue winning. The key question is whether their results will eventually align with their displays or if their performances can improve to match the results.

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

A Core Characteristic: Belief

Coming from behind is not merely a trait of the current campaign. Over the past 3 seasons, no side has gained more points from losing positions than Villa's 54; Eighteen of those were secured this season, fifty percent more than the next best team, Sunderland. This season, Villa players from the bench have scored nine goals. Two important points can be made about Villa under their manager.

• Firstly, they possess a profound confidence that means no deficit ever feels beyond them. This is, in part, a virtuous cycle: the more they achieve comebacks, the more they believe they can do it again.
• Second, Emery has proven exceptionally adept at influencing games through his use of the bench.

A Masterful Change

While Chelsea had the better of the xG battle 2.1 to 1.4, Villa were dominant from the moment, just before the hour mark, when Emery made a triple substitution. Ollie Watkins came on for Malen, who had found it difficult with few chances. Immediately, the ball began to stick, and Watkins's runs in behind caused problems. Amadou Onana and Sancho also entered, strengthening the midfield and providing the flank presence they had eschewed earlier.

Chelsea had ten attempts to Villa's zero before the changes; afterwards, Villa created eleven opportunities to Chelsea's 4. By the end, Villa were in control and could have won more comfortably. Not for the first time, Chelsea boss Maresca struggled to respond as the game slipped away; the sense remains that he is better at implementing a tactical plan with time to prepare than adapting on the fly.

Individual Brilliance

Villa have also developed a happy habit of players producing pieces of sensational quality to turn games. Morgan Rogers has been decisive at Leeds, West Ham, and against Manchester United. The image of him shifting the ball onto his favored foot and curling a finish into the top corner has become a recurring theme. It was the winger who transformed the game from the bench at Leeds. The striker changed the game at Stamford Bridge. The contributions of defenders like Ezri Konsa and Viktor Lindelof on Saturday were also vital. Right now, it's seldom the whole side playing flawlessly, but enough players within it delivering to secure the victories.

What Comes Next?

Will they be able to keep going? They now sit three points behind Arsenal, and as the season approaches its halfway stage, they have to be viewed as part of the championship conversation, arguably more so than club world champions Chelsea or defending champions Liverpool. Tuesday's away fixture at Arsenal will be a major examination of that claim. Villa defeated Arsenal on the first weekend of December, a match in which they not only won the xG but posted an xG 40% 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 3 in a row without ever being entirely convincing. Tuesday will be a challenge for both sides – and if Villa win a 12th game in a row, it would become almost impossible to deny their championship pedigree.