Aston Villa Defy All Gravity Once More as Winning Streak Rolls On at Stamford Bridge

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

A Record-Chasing Triumph Against the Odds

Aston Villa entered the weekend's Premier League encounter at Chelsea aiming for a historic record of eleven consecutive wins, matching runs set in the distant past. For the opening hour, this feat seemed highly unlikely, as the hosts controlled proceedings, took the lead, and might have added several more. However, Chelsea are frailty when ahead, particularly at home, while Villa have cultivated a remarkable habit of securing away victories from losing positions.

First, Ollie Watkins equalised, the ball ricocheting in off his shin and the post after 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 season. Watkins might feel some fortune was due, and it's undeniable the first goal involved a significant element of luck. Currently, though, Lady Luck is smiling on Villa.

The Numbers Of an Implausible Run

Nine of these eleven straight wins have been by a solitary goal. They have kept a clean sheet in just one of those games. Their expected goals (xG) have been superior in just six of those fixtures, and in a couple of those, the margin was minimal. Their last five road Premier League victories have all come from behind. This formula should not, but observers have been saying that for weeks, and Villa keep on winning. The key question is whether their outcomes will finally align with their performances or if their level of play can improve to justify the points haul.

This should not be possible, but everybody's been stating that for a while and Villa keep on winning.

A Defining Trait: Resilience

Coming from behind is not just a feature of the current campaign. Over the past three seasons, no side has gained more points when trailing than Villa's fifty-four; 18 of those have been secured this term, 50% more than the second-placed team, Sunderland. This season, Villa substitutes have contributed 9 goals. Two important points can be made about Villa under their manager.

• First, they possess a deep-rooted self-belief that means no game ever feels beyond them. This is, to an extent, self-perpetuating: the more they come from behind, the more they are convinced they can do it once more.
• Secondly, Emery has proven exceptionally adept at changing games through his use of the bench.

A Masterful Change

While Chelsea had the better of the xG battle 2.1-1.4, Villa became dominant from the moment, around the hour mark, when Emery made a triple change. Ollie Watkins replaced Donyell Malen, who had found it difficult with limited service. Immediately, the ball was held up better, and Watkins's movement behind the defensive line caused problems. Amadou Onana and Sancho also entered, bolstering the center and adding the width they had lacked earlier.

Chelsea had 10 shots to Villa's none before the substitutions; afterwards, Villa created eleven opportunities to Chelsea's 4. By the end, Villa were commanding and could have won by a greater margin. Once again, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca struggled to react as the game turned against him; the sense remains that he is better at implementing a game plan with time to prepare than making adjustments in the moment.

Moment of Magic

Villa have also developed a welcome habit of individuals producing pieces of match-winning quality to alter games. Rogers has scored crucial goals at Leeds, West Ham, and against Manchester United. The image of him working the ball onto his right foot and whipping a finish home has become a seasonal leitmotif. It was the winger who changed the game from the bench at Leeds. Watkins swung the game at Stamford Bridge. The contributions of defenders like Ezri Konsa and Lindelof on Saturday were also vital. At present, it's seldom the entire team playing brilliantly, but sufficient players within it stepping up to earn the victories.

The Road Ahead

Can they maintain this run? They now sit three points behind the league leaders, and as the season approaches its midway point, they have to be viewed as in the championship conversation, certainly more so than club world champions Chelsea or reigning title holders Liverpool. The upcoming away fixture at Arsenal will be a significant examination of that claim. Villa beat Arsenal earlier this month, 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 term.

The Gunners have assembled their own run of single-goal victories, winning 3 in a row without ever being wholly convincing. Tuesday will be a challenge for both teams – and if Villa secure a 12th game in a row, it would become almost impossible to dismiss their championship pedigree.