At A Glance
Aston Villa’s Premier League campaign resumes at Stamford Bridge on Saturday when Unai Emery’s team take on Chelsea.
Several Villans impressed for their countries during the international break and will now look to extend the side’s four-game unbeaten run.
That sequence, which includes three wins, has seen Villa draw level on points with the Blues with both teams having played 27 games.
Chelsea have gone four games without defeat themselves, drawing 2-2 against Everton last time out.
Graham Potter’s men own the tenth-best home record in the top tier having managed six wins from 13 games at Stamford Bridge.
Kai Havertz has been the main source of goals for the west Londoners, bagging nine so far this term.
Standout Stats
Chelsea have won nine of the past 11 Premier League meetings, with their only defeat in that run coming at Villa Park on the final day of the 2020-21 season.
Aston Villa are vying to go five league matches without defeat for the first time since December 2020. The last fixture in that sequence was a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Aston Villa's solitary victory in their last 19 away matches versus Chelsea in all competitions was by 3-1 in the league on 31 December 2011 (D5, L13).
Chelsea are unbeaten in three league games, winning two - as many as in their previous 15 attempts. Their six goals in those three fixtures equals their tally from the previous 12.
Villa have earned 26 points from 14 games under Unai Emery, with only Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs faring better during that period.
Chelsea made it three wins in three league matches under Graham Potter when they beat Villa 2-0 away in October; the Blues have won only four of their subsequent 18 league games.
The Villans have scored in all 14 Premier League games under Emery, their longest run since a 17-match streak from August to December 2009.
All 10 of Chelsea's league victories this season were against teams currently in the bottom half of the table.
There have been 26 Premier League goals scored at Stamford Bridge in 2022-23, fewer than at any other ground.
Villa have taken 13 points out of a possible 18 in away matches since Emery took charge, having been winless in their previous seven fixtures on the road this season (D2, L5).
Ollie Watkins can become the first Villa player to score in five successive Premier League away matches.
Emiliano Martínez is poised to make his 100th Premier League appearance for Villa and could become the first goalkeeper to register 34 clean sheets for the club in as few games. Mark Bosnich and Brad Friedel both kept 33 shutouts.
The Last Meeting
Despite Villa’s best efforts, Kepa Arrizabalaga proved unbeatable as Chelsea left Villa Park with all three points in October.
Mason Mount volleyed the Blues ahead after six minutes, with the goalkeeper proceeding to steal the show with a series of stunning stops.
A superb triple save denied John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey and Danny Ings before he leapt across goal later in the half to keep out the latter’s point-blank header.
Chelsea managed to net a second when Mount’s swerving free-kick deceived Emi Martínez on 65 minutes.
Team News
Matty Cash has been ruled out after picking up an injury on international duty.
Better news comes in the shape of Boubacar Kamara and Leander Dendoncker, who are in contention to return to the squad.
Reece James and Kai Havertz have shaken off injury and illness respectively to make themselves available for the Blues.
Christian Pulisic is a doubt for the game while Raheem Sterling and Wesley Fofana are confirmed absentees.
The Boss
“Chelsea are a candidate to be in the top four but after 27 games, they are not. They have very good players and their coach is amazing. His work in Brighton was amazing and he needs time to adapt his ideas to Chelsea. Progressively, they are doing better. We are in the same position. We are 11th but we’re really close and with the same points as Chelsea. We’re close to teams that are having a very good season: Fulham, Brentford, Brighton. We are excited by the prospect, for the first time, to be close to them.”
Unai Emery
