Tottenham’s search for a first Premier League win of the season goes on after they slipped to a 3-2 home defeat by Aston Villa, a result that left manager Roberto De Zerbi labelling his side “too fragile”.
Spurs had been comfortable and on top for much of the first half, with Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki denying both Savio and Archie Gray during a dominant opening 20 minutes. But without a goal they were always vulnerable at the other end, and in first-half injury time a Villa opener arrived while Tottenham were temporarily down to 10 men as Micky van de Ven received treatment for a blow to the face that kept him off the pitch. Andy Robertson tried to stop a corner but only gifted the ball to John McGinn, and after Boubacar Kamara’s effort Johan Manzambi prodded in from close range.
From there it got worse. Goals from Nicolas Jackson and Emi Buendia put the visitors 3-0 up, Buendia’s arriving via a brilliant 25-yard strike into the top corner in the 79th minute. Some Tottenham supporters missed the opening goal as they headed for half-time refreshments, while several thousand streamed out of the stands after Buendia’s effort. Late goals from Conor Gallagher and Jan Paul van Hecke – the club’s first in the league this season – proved little consolation.
Tottenham are now in the bottom three after spending over £300m in the summer. The defeat represents their worst start to a top-flight season since 2008-09, when they also had two points after five games, and they have now gone five league games without a win at the start of a season for the first time since 1986. Spurs have also failed to win any of their last 36 Premier League matches when conceding first.
A decisive moment came when Mohammed Kudus thought he had levelled on the hour, only for Robertson to be ruled just offside having delivered the cross. Seven minutes later Jackson scored from Suzuki’s long launch downfield, and the game was effectively over.
De Zerbi was critical of how his team conceded the first goal with a man off the pitch. “My focus is why we concede the first goal with 10 players, we can stay stronger, communicate more and more, defend in a compact way,” he said. He added that he takes responsibility for the result but that his side must defend better as a unit, and that he did not speak to the players afterwards because he did not want to say anything. He said the players going away on international duty have to play and work, while others – James Maddison, Gallagher, Dominic Solanke, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marcos Senesi and Savio – have to work more because he did not like their physical condition in the game.
Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray believes De Zerbi needs time. “He is trying to build something, it will take time,” he told BBC’s Final Score, pointing to statistics showing Spurs have had more shots in three of the past four games, more possession and more touches in the opposition box. “They need to be patient with Roberto De Zerbi, with all the signings, it takes time to gel and get to know each other.”
Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole questioned Tottenham’s transfer business following a spend of around £302m. Sandro Tonali, the £100m midfielder from Newcastle, was overshadowed by Villa’s captain McGinn, a £2.75m signing from Hibs eight years ago. Around £85m went on Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, who was substituted at half-time, while £75m was spent on Savio from Manchester City, and Omar Marmoush will cost £60m once his loan becomes permanent. “I feel they have overpaid for every player they bought this summer – you can’t rule them out from being in and around the relegation battle,” Cole told TNT.
De Zerbi defended the club’s summer window. “I am happy with the squad but the market was long, the situation changed many times,” he said. “There was also financial fair play and we have to respect that. We didn’t sell the players we thought there was a possibility to sell.”
For Aston Villa, the win was a first league victory of the season and a welcome relief after three defeats in their opening four games. Villa committed to spending more than £250m during their rebuild, a move made out of necessity because of their own high-profile exits, and the Europa League winners were always likely to go through a period of transition as new players settle. Spurs now head into a three-week international break still awaiting their first Premier League win.