Tottenham Hotspur’s unsettled summer rebuild could give Aston Villa a clear pressing opportunity when the sides meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Roberto De Zerbi’s squad has undergone major changes, with only a small number of last season’s regular contributors still playing significant minutes. The result has been a young team still searching for relationships and consistency.
That lack of cohesion is one area Unai Emery should look to test.
Aston Villa can target Tottenham’s unsettled build-up
Tottenham have reached dangerous positions during the opening weeks of the season, but their final pass and finishing have repeatedly let them down. They remain without a Premier League goal after four matches, despite creating enough attacking situations to suggest the problem is not simply a lack of possession.
For Villa, the answer should be an organised press rather than constant aggression. Emery’s forwards can screen the central passing lanes before jumping onto Tottenham’s centre-backs when the ball is moved wide.
The aim will be to force rushed passes into midfield, where Villa can compete for second balls and attack before Spurs recover their defensive shape.
Villa’s expected selection has already been outlined in our Aston Villa predicted XI for the Tottenham trip, but the pressing structure will matter as much as the personnel.
Returning players add quality but not certainty
Pedro Porro, Sandro Tonali and James Maddison are all available for Tottenham, although De Zerbi has stressed that their physical condition will be assessed. Maddison has only recently returned to full training, while Tonali missed the midweek Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool with a knock.
Their availability improves Tottenham’s technical quality, but it may also create a difficult balance for the home side. Villa can press the spaces around returning players and ask whether they are ready to maintain the intensity of a Premier League match.
Tottenham’s official team information confirms the trio’s availability, while the Guardian’s analysis of Spurs’ early-season problems highlights the wider disruption caused by injuries, squad turnover and frequent selection changes.
Our earlier analysis of James Maddison’s return and the Tottenham midfield test explains why the space between Villa’s midfield and defence will be crucial.
Emery must keep Villa compact
Villa cannot press recklessly. Maddison’s ability to receive between the lines and Porro’s delivery from the right remain major threats if the visitors leave space behind their first line.
The best approach is likely to be selective pressure, with Villa’s midfield staying close to the defence and the wide players ready to recover quickly. If Emery’s side can force Tottenham into predictable passes without losing their own structure, the visitors can turn Spurs’ uncertainty into an attacking advantage.
Tottenham have quality returning to the squad, but availability is not the same as rhythm. Villa’s challenge is to test that difference from the first whistle.
