Tottenham dispel curse but still in crisis: Key talking points from Aston Villa defeat

Spurs remain winless in Premier League despite heavy summer spend

Scraping his fingernails over his teeth, Roberto De Zerbi looked dejected and downwards as Emi Buendia curled into the far corner to put Aston Villa three up and pile the misery on Tottenham.

That it eventually ended 3-2 to the visitors was merely an update in the finer details of a game Spurs lost at 3-0 and lost in spirit at 2-0, when it became increasingly routine for the visitors to maraud through their hosts’ expensive new-look midfield as though it were in need of the flash surge of investment it has only just been given.

A first league win of the season for Villa, and yet Tottenham are still to muster one. There had never before been a game at this late a stage of the Premier League season involving two teams with so few goals between them (Villa’s one) before kick-off.

Naturally, plenty of goals followed. Tottenham’s two came far too late to make any material difference.

Curse over - but Spurs still goal-shy

Tottenham finally scored a goal in a top-flight game this season, at the fifth time of asking, but even a second, 12 minutes later, could not save them from another home defeat.

The very first time half-time substitute Mohammed Kudus trusted his body enough to take on his man and go on the outside, his pull-back allowed fellow substitute Conor Gallagher to convert via a deflection. That meant Spurs entered injury time 3-1 down rather than 3-0, and with practically the last kick of the game, Jan Paul van Hecke headed in to reduce the deficit to one. It still wasn’t enough.

De Zerbi had this week declared Spurs the first team he had managed for whom scoring was the biggest problem. He wanted a solution. In scoring twice, they did officially have one, and yet Spurs will still know they have an issue with taking the many chances they make.

In the first half especially, it felt as though the ball would do anything but go in. The attacks being constructed were smart moves, yet Archie Gray and Savio, twice, were denied by Zion Suzuki. Sandro Tonali fired just wide from range in both halves, and Kudus’ score for 1-1 was struck off for offside.

Spurs fans when the referee signalled to disallow that goal must have wondered whether they would ever score in the league again. They soon did, twice, but the game was already long gone.

Injury worry for key man

It must feel as though Tottenham’s players have been on continual shift work for two years or so, when it comes to injuries. As soon as one player returns, another succumbs to a fresh problem.

On Saturday, it was the turn of one of their most important players in those 24 months, Pedro Porro, who lasted only 19 minutes before leaving the field devastated.

Porro missed the last two Tottenham matches due to injury but was always expected backfor the visit of Villa and duly started. When trying to make a tackle, though, he ended up on the turf and visibly in pain.

Rubbing his face with frustration, he lay back and was helped out by a teammate with cramp. Though eager to carry on, the world champion knew he could not, receiving a warm, anxiety-fuelled applause when trudging off. With a shake off the head in disappointment, he was consoled by De Zerbi and replaced by Archie Gray.

A three-week international break will help, but Spurs will be desperate to see positive news from his scans and a long lay-off avoided.

Mission failed: Dominic Solanke

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Forward fails test again

All eyes were on Dominic Solanke, whose injury-hit 14 months have seen him lose a yard of pace, much of his goal threat, and his physical presence in the air. Tottenham fans want to believe that isn’t permanent, yet his poor performance was as ineffectual as his comeback display against Everton last weekend.

A day after being once again snubbed by England, Solanke again struggled. An untimely slip when closing down Zion Suzuki in the sixth minute was followed by a better case of pressing a few minutes later, forcing the goalkeeper to hoick the ball out of play.

That and one nice take-down with his back to goal — something De Zerbi wants and needs more of — were the extent of the Englishman’s impact up front before he was replaced on 66 minutes.

"He needs to feel better, but we need more from him, for sure,” the Italian said of his No19, who Spurs paid £55million for back in the summer of 2024.

The 29-year-old headed well over from a corner and was unable to create any chances for himself. With Richarlison exiled, he needed to make his mark and failed once more. Tottenham are at least up and running in terms of Premier League goals, but Solanke isn’t. And that first league win still eludes them. They must wait until October to put that right.