Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery enters a pivotal match against Tottenham on Saturday, having transformed the team from mid-table struggling to Europa League winners. Under his leadership, Villa has qualified for Europe every season since his arrival and has returned to the Champions League this year. However, this season presents a new challenge with the integration of ten new players after a £250 million summer spend.
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Emery acknowledged his team's loss of control in last Saturday's defeat to Nottingham Forest, expressing uncertainty about the reasons behind it. He recognizes that the newer players are still adjusting to their roles within the team's system, which limited his impact from the touchline. Despite his sometimes frantic demeanor during games, he is known for calmly addressing players in the dressing room afterward.
The head coach is counting on veteran players John McGinn and Tyrone Mings to guide the team through this difficult phase. Their experience is why they played in Wednesday's Carabao Cup win against Coventry instead of being rested. McGinn has remarked that adapting to Emery's tactics feels like "doing a lot of homework," which could also explain the challenges faced by new signings, including Aaron Wan-Bissaka, in their transition.
Following Saturday's match, Villa faces a three-week break, but Emery won't have ample training time with many players heading off for international duty. He remarked on the unusual length of the break, admitting that although it presents challenges, they must navigate it without making excuses. Villa currently sits with only one point from their opening four games, and Emery emphasized the importance of the match against Tottenham as they seek to improve their standings.
New signings Johan Manzambi, acquired from Freiburg, and £47 million winger Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain made their debuts last weekend and are expected to play key roles going forward. Nicolas Jackson, who joined from Chelsea in August, will also start on Saturday as Emery approaches his preferred line-up.
Statistically, Villa has struggled significantly, recording the lowest expected goals (xG) in the Premier League at 3.39, slightly worse than Tottenham's 3.45. They also have the fewest shots in the league (33) and have scored only once this season—Alysson’s header in the match against Forest. Meanwhile, Tottenham have not scored in their last four league matches, marking their longest scoring drought since September 2006.
Despite these struggles, Villa must remain vigilant against a Tottenham side that has demonstrated passing efficiency, boasting the highest successful pass completion rate at 81.4%. Defensively, Villa will welcome back Matty Cash from injury, but Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen are unavailable for the match. The historical rivalry shows an encouraging trend for Villa, as none of the last 22 meetings with Spurs have ended in a draw, with Spurs leading that series with 15 wins.