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It simply cannot go on. It makes no rational sense that it persists. 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, matching runs set in the distant past. For the opening hour, achieving it seemed improbable, as Chelsea dominated proceedings, secured the lead, and might have added to their advantage. However, Chelsea have shown vulnerability with a lead, particularly at home, while Villa have cultivated a baffling knack of snatching away victories from losing positions.

First, Ollie Watkins equalised, the ball ricocheting in off his shin and the post following his first effort was blocked by Robert Sánchez. Subsequently, he secured the decisive goal with a deft header. This marked just his fourth and fifth league goals of the season. Watkins might feel some fortune was overdue, and it's undeniable the equalizing goal had a large slice of good fortune. Currently, however, Lady Luck seems to be favoring Villa.

The Numbers Of an Implausible Run

Nine of these eleven straight wins were by a single goal. They have kept a clean sheet in just one of those matches. Their underlying metrics have been superior in only six of those encounters, and in two of those, the margin was 0.2 or less. Their last five road Premier League victories have all come after conceding first. This pattern seems unsustainable, yet observers have been claiming that for some time, and Villa keep on winning. The key question is whether their results will finally match their performances or if their level of play can improve to match the points haul.

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

A Defining Trait: Resilience

Coming from behind is not just a trait of this season. Over the past three 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 substitutes have scored 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 beyond them. This is, in part, a virtuous cycle: the more they achieve comebacks, the more they believe they can do it once more.
• Second, Emery has proven very adept at changing games with his use of the bench.

A Masterful Change

While Chelsea had the better of the expected goals 2.1-1.4, Villa were dominant from the moment, just before the hour mark, when Emery executed a triple change. Watkins replaced Malen, who had struggled with few chances. Immediately, the ball began to stick, and Watkins's runs behind the defensive line caused problems. Onana and Sancho also entered, bolstering the midfield and providing the flank presence 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 by a greater margin. Not for the first time, opposing manager Maresca seemed unable to respond as the game slipped away; the impression remains that he is better at devising a tactical plan with preparation time than adapting on the fly.

Individual Brilliance

Villa have also developed a welcome habit of players producing pieces of match-winning 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 right foot and curling a finish home has become a recurring theme. It was Malen who changed the game from the bench at Leeds. Watkins swung the game at Stamford Bridge. The contributions of defenders like Ezri Konsa and Viktor Lindelof on Saturday were key. Right now, it's not always the entire team playing brilliantly, but sufficient individuals within it delivering 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 approaches its halfway stage, they must be viewed as in the title race, certainly more so than teams like Chelsea or reigning title holders Liverpool. Tuesday's away fixture at Arsenal will be a major examination of that status. Villa beat Arsenal on the first weekend of December, a match in which they not only had better the xG but posted an xG 40% higher than any other side has managed against Arsenal in the league this season.

The Gunners have assembled their own sequence 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 almost impossible to deny their championship pedigree.