Victor Lindelöf says Aston Villa are ready for festive challenges

Aston Villa defender Victor Lindelöf insists Unai Emery’s side are fully prepared for the demanding festive schedule, as the Villans chase an 11th consecutive victory with a trip to Chelsea this weekend.

Villa travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening before another testing London fixture against Arsenal next Tuesday, with momentum firmly on their side after ten straight wins in all competitions. For Lindelöf, these are exactly the type of games players look forward to.

Speaking ahead of the clash with Chelsea, Lindelöf acknowledged the quality of Enzo Maresca’s side and the challenge they pose.

“It’s obviously a great team with great individual players,” Lindelöf said. “They’ve also been playing some great football, so it’s going to be a tough one.

“We have to make sure we’re ready and at the top, top level. If not, they’re going to make it difficult for us.”

Despite the difficulty, the Swedish international made clear that these fixtures are what elite football is about.

“It’s always fun to play against Chelsea,” he added. “It’s a big game against a big team and you always want to play well in those games.

“Growing up, you wanted to play against the best teams and the best players. To have the opportunity to do that every week, you have to enjoy it and express yourself in the best way possible.”

Villa’s winning run has elevated expectations, but Lindelöf stressed that the squad’s mindset remains grounded as they navigate a congested schedule.

“Everyone is ready for the task,” he said. “It’s going to be very, very tricky, but we take one game at a time. Hopefully get three points, and then we focus on the next challenge.”

That approach has served Villa well during their recent run, with Emery’s side finding ways to win even when not operating at peak performance.

Having started Villa’s last two Premier League matches, Lindelöf also reflected positively on his early months at the club. The 31-year-old admitted he is enjoying both his football and the environment under Emery.

“I’m enjoying myself and it’s great to be here,” Lindelöf said. “I’ve been playing lately, which is always nice, being able to help the team on the pitch.

“We’ve been performing great and winning a lot of games, which is super important for us.”

Crucially, Lindelöf highlighted Villa’s resilience — a trait that has defined their season so far.

“We’ve been able to find a way to win games even when we haven’t performed at the top, top level,” he explained. “We’ve still scored goals and got the three points, which shows strength.”

Despite their current form, Lindelöf believes Villa have further room for growth as they head into 2026.

“Looking at the players we have and the football we’ve been playing, we have high expectations of ourselves,” he said. “I think we can try and go a little bit more.”

Having followed Villa closely this season, that belief is shared around the club. The festive fixtures will test squad depth and consistency, but confidence remains high.

Villa’s visit to Stamford Bridge is the first of two major London tests in quick succession. Positive results over the festive period could further cement their status as genuine contenders near the top of the table, while also testing their ability to sustain intensity across a demanding run of fixtures.

Can Aston Villa extend their winning run against Chelsea and Arsenal, or will the festive schedule finally slow them down?