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It simply cannot go on. It makes no sense for it to persist. And yet, it does.

A Record-Chasing Victory Against the Odds

The Claret and Blue army arrived at the weekend's top-flight clash at Chelsea looking to equal a club record of 11 consecutive wins, a feat last achieved in the distant past. For much of the match, achieving it seemed improbable, as Chelsea controlled proceedings, secured the lead, and might have added several more. However, Chelsea have shown vulnerability with a lead, particularly at home, while Villa have cultivated a baffling knack of snatching away victories after falling behind.

First, the striker equalised, the ball ricocheting in off his shin and the post following his initial shot was blocked 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 campaign. Watkins might feel a bit of luck was overdue, and there's no question the equalizing goal had a large slice of good fortune. Currently, though, Lady Luck seems to be smiling on Villa.

The Numbers Of an Unlikely Run

The last nine of these eleven straight wins have been by a single goal. They have kept a shutout in only one of those games. Their underlying metrics have been superior in only six of those encounters, and in two of those, the advantage was minimal. Their last five road Premier League victories have all come from behind. This formula seems unsustainable, but observers have been saying that for weeks, and Villa continue winning. The central question is whether their outcomes will finally align with their displays or if their level of play can improve to match the points haul.

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

A Defining Characteristic: Resilience

Fighting back is not merely a feature of the current campaign. Over the past 3 seasons, no team has gained more points from losing positions than Villa's 54; Eighteen of those have been secured this term, fifty percent more than the second-placed team, Sunderland. This season, Villa substitutes have contributed 9 goals. Two key observations can be made about Villa under Unai Emery.

• First, they possess a deep-rooted self-belief that means no deficit ever feels beyond them. This is, in part, a virtuous cycle: the more they come from behind, the more they believe they can do it again.
• Second, Emery has proven very skilled at influencing games through his use of the bench.

The Emery Effect

While Chelsea had the better of the expected goals 2.1-1.4, Villa became dominant from the moment, around the hour mark, when Emery made a triple substitution. Watkins came on for 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, strengthening the center and providing the flank presence they had eschewed earlier.

Chelsea had ten attempts to Villa's zero before the changes; following them, Villa had 11 chances to Chelsea's 4. By the end, Villa were in control and could have won by a greater margin. Not for the first time, opposing manager Maresca seemed unable to react as the game slipped away; the sense remains that he is more proficient at implementing a game plan with time to prepare than adapting on the fly.

Individual Brilliance

Villa have cultivated a welcome habit of individuals producing moments of match-winning quality to turn 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 whipping a finish into the top corner has become a seasonal leitmotif. It was Malen who transformed the game after coming on at Leeds. Watkins changed the game at Stamford Bridge. The performances of players such as 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 secure the victories.

What Comes Next?

Can they keep going? They now sit three points behind the league leaders, and as the season approaches its midway point, they must be viewed as in the championship conversation, certainly more so than club world champions Chelsea or defending champions Liverpool. Tuesday's away game at Arsenal will be a major test of that status. Villa beat Arsenal earlier this month, a match in which they not only won the xG but posted an xG forty percent higher than any other side has managed against Arsenal in the league this season.

The Gunners have since put together their own run of narrow victories, winning 3 in a row without ever being wholly convincing. Tuesday will be a test for both teams – and if Villa secure a 12th game in a row, it would become increasingly difficult to deny their championship pedigree.