Aston Villa's remarkable and seemingly gravity-defying run of form continued in dramatic fashion on Saturday, as they came from behind to defeat Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. This victory marks their 11th consecutive win across all competitions, equalling a club record set over a century ago.
The Stamford Bridge Comeback
For the opening hour, Chelsea were dominant, creating numerous chances and taking a deserved lead. Villa, aiming to match records from 1897 and 1914, were outplayed and fortunate not to be further behind. The game's momentum shifted decisively following a triple substitution by manager Unai Emery just before the 60-minute mark.
The introduction of Ollie Watkins proved pivotal. The England striker equalised with a fortunate but determined effort, the ball rebounding off his shin and the post after his initial shot was saved. He then completed the turnaround with a deft header for the winner, taking his Premier League tally for the season to five goals.
A Pattern of Improbable Victories
This comeback was not an isolated incident but part of a stunning pattern for Villa this season. Nine of their last 11 wins have been by a single goal, and they have kept only one clean sheet in that sequence. Even more improbably, this was their fifth consecutive away Premier League victory achieved after conceding first.
The underlying statistics, such as Expected Goals (xG), suggest this streak is unsustainable. Villa have had the superior xG in only six of these 11 wins. Yet, the results keep coming. This resilience is a hallmark of Emery's tenure; over the past three seasons, no Premier League side has won more points (54) from losing positions than Aston Villa.
Emery's Mastery and Collective Belief
Two key factors underpin this relentless form. Firstly, Emery has shown a masterful ability to change games with his substitutions. Against Chelsea, his triple change altered the dynamic completely. Before the change, Chelsea had 10 shots to Villa's none; afterwards, Villa created 11 chances to Chelsea's four.
Secondly, the squad possesses an unshakeable self-belief. The more they succeed in overturning deficits, the stronger that belief becomes. This season, Villa substitutes have contributed nine crucial goals, highlighting the squad's depth and a 'never say die' attitude instilled by the manager.
Title Credentials on the Line
The victory leaves Villa just three points behind league leaders Arsenal as the season approaches its halfway point. Their credentials will face the ultimate test on Tuesday when they travel to the Emirates Stadium for a top-of-the-table clash.
Villa already beat Arsenal at Villa Park in early December, registering an xG total 40% higher than any other side has managed against Mikel Arteta's team this league campaign. Another victory, which would be their 12th in a row, would make it almost impossible to dismiss their status as genuine title contenders.
While questions remain about the sustainability of winning so many tight games, Aston Villa, under Unai Emery, continue to confound expectations and rewrite their own history.
