Aston Villa turned a one-goal deficit into a 2-1 win at Chelsea, with substitute Ollie Watkins scoring twice in the second half. The victory tightened Villa’s Premier League title pursuit and moved the team
back within three points of leaders Arsenal, who visit Villa Park on Tuesday.
The result also continued a dramatic shift in Villa’s season. At the end of matchday five, Villa were 18th in the table without a league win, having drawn three and lost two. From matchday six onwards, Villa have collected more victories, 12, and more points, 36, than any other side.
Unai Emery’s team have now put together 11 consecutive Premier League wins, matching a club record last achieved in 1914. That run includes this success at Stamford Bridge, where Villa overturned a dominant Chelsea first half with a clinical display after the break and another decisive impact from Watkins.
Chelsea controlled most of the opening 45 minutes and created the first clear chances. Enzo Fernandez curled a shot just wide, then Emiliano Martinez denied Joao Pedro’s clever near-post flick. Chelsea finally went ahead in the 37th minute from a set piece delivered by captain Reece James.
James swung a corner from the left towards the six-yard box, where Joao Pedro challenged Martinez on the line. As the pair contested the ball, it brushed Joao Pedro’s calf and crossed the line, giving Chelsea a 1-0 advantage that reflected their pressure and territory before half-time.
Chelsea looked close to doubling that lead early in the second half. A dangerous cross from Cole Palmer almost produced an own goal, when John McGinn sliced the ball towards his own net. Villa survived that scare, and Emery responded by making a triple substitution in the 58th minute.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea Premier League impact of Ollie Watkins
Watkins entered as part of that change and quickly influenced the game. First, Watkins laid the ball off for Boubacar Kamara, whose shot was blocked by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Then, in the 63rd minute, Watkins burst through on goal and saw his initial effort stopped by Sanchez.
The ball rebounded off Watkins and rolled into the net, bringing Villa level with an element of good fortune. The forward’s second goal needed no luck. In the 84th minute, Watkins met Youri Tielemans’ corner from the right with a powerful header into the bottom-left corner to seal the comeback.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea Premier League match statistics and records
The shift between the two halves was clear in the numbers. Before the break, Chelsea attempted 10 shots, produced 1.98 expected goals and had 28 touches in Villa’s penalty area. Villa failed to register a shot and managed only three touches in the Chelsea box during that period.
After half-time, the pattern reversed. Villa outshot Chelsea by 11 attempts to four, generating 1.05 expected goals compared to Chelsea’s 0.16, and almost matched the hosts for touches in the box, with 14 to 16. Watkins’ contribution also carried historical significance in the context of Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge.
Watkins became the second substitute to score a brace away at Chelsea in the Premier League this season, following Danny Welbeck’s two goals for Brighton. Between the 1992-93 and 2024-25 seasons, that feat occurred only once, when Callum Robinson did so for West Brom in April 2021.
Villa’s comeback at Chelsea strengthened belief in a sustained title challenge and underlined the impact of Emery’s in-game decisions. With the team now the form side in the division since matchday six and Arsenal next on the schedule, the Stamford Bridge victory added further weight to Villa’s growing credentials.
