Struggling Villa and Spurs meet in early-season test

Aston Villa welcome Tottenham on Saturday in a match that could prove pivotal for both struggling sides early in the season. Villa have collected just one point from their opening four Premier League games, while Tottenham have gone four straight league matches without scoring — their longest such drought since September 2006.

Villa boss Unai Emery admitted he wasn't entirely sure why his side lost control during last weekend's defeat to Nottingham Forest. The club spent more than £250m rebuilding its squad over the summer, bringing in 10 new players, and several are still adapting to Emery's demanding methods and Villa's tactical structure.

Emery is leaning on experienced figures John McGinn and Tyrone Mings to help steady the squad through this difficult period — both featured in Wednesday's Carabao Cup win over Coventry rather than being rested. After Saturday's fixture, an unusually long three-week international break follows, during which Emery will lose access to several players on national duty, limiting his ability to work with the squad on the training ground.

Both clubs rank among the Premier League's worst attacking sides by expected goals this season, trailing even bottom side Coventry. Villa have managed fewer shots than any other top-flight team, while Tottenham lead the league in passes and pass completion in the final third without translating that dominance into goals.

Despite both teams' scoring struggles, history suggests a draw is unlikely: none of the last 22 Premier League meetings between the clubs have ended level, with Tottenham winning 15 and Villa seven. Villa will hope facing a winless opponent offers a chance to kick-start their campaign, though they cannot afford complacency.