Victor Lindelöf arrived at Aston Villa as an experienced defensive option. Just over a year later, he is beginning to look increasingly difficult for Unai Emery to leave out.
The 32-year-old started alongside Tyrone Mings as Villa claimed their first Premier League victory of the season with a dramatic 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
That partnership was required because Pau Torres remains sidelined with a hamstring problem, with our latest Pau Torres injury timeline placing the Brentford game on October 10 as his earliest realistic competitive target.
Torres’ absence has naturally placed more responsibility on Mings.
However, Lindelöf’s contribution alongside him should not be overlooked.
Victor Lindelöf brings calm to Aston Villa defence
Lindelöf does not need to dominate possession or constantly step into midfield to influence Villa’s defensive structure.
His experience allows him to read danger, retain his position and give the more aggressive defenders around him licence to engage opponents.
That balance matters alongside Mings.
Emery had already challenged Mings to assume greater responsibility in Villa’s build-up without Torres, as we examined when the defender justified Emery’s faith against Tottenham.
Lindelöf provides a different type of security alongside him.
His presence means Mings can attack aerial balls and step forward when necessary without Villa automatically losing experience behind the initial challenge.
It is not spectacular, but that is partly the point.
Before the Tottenham victory, Lindelöf insisted the dressing room had remained positive despite Villa’s difficult start.
“The mood in the team is good,” he told GOAL ahead of the trip to north London.
Villa then backed that confidence up with three points.
Sweden selection underlines Lindelöf’s continued importance
His standing at international level provides further evidence that Lindelöf remains capable of performing at a high level.
The Swedish Football Association included Lindelöf in Graham Potter’s Nations League squad and specifically identified him among the core players retained from Sweden’s World Cup group.
He has 80 senior international appearances and now heads away for games against Romania, Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina during the extended break.
Lindelöf is one of several Villa players on international duty, with the full list and their return dates available in our Aston Villa international break tracker.
Those matches should keep him sharp before Villa resume domestic action.
Emery faces a genuine centre-back decision
Torres remains fundamental to Villa’s possession game and will be expected to challenge for his place once fit.
Mings has responded strongly to his own opportunity, while Taylor Harwood-Bellis offers another option after making his first start against Coventry City.
That leaves Emery with greater competition than Villa possessed at centre-back during parts of last season.
Lindelöf, though, is making a strong case of his own.
He was initially the experienced squad player capable of filling gaps when required.
After another important start in a major away victory, his role now looks considerably bigger than that.
