Unai Emery's Villa face a critical early test against Tottenham, seeking their first Premier League win after four winless games. Emery has overseen a major squad overhaul, spending over £250m on new signings, but integration has been slow. Villa sit 16th with only one point, possessing the league's worst expected goals (3.39) and fewest shots (33).

Key new arrivals like Ibrahim Mbaye and Johan Manzambi debuted last weekend, while Nicolas Jackson is set to start. Tottenham endure their own winless start, failing to score in four consecutive league matches for the first time since 2006. Despite creating chances, they rank poorly for shots on target.

Villa's defence, missing Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen, must contain Spurs' high pass completion rate. An extended three-week international break follows the match, disrupting Emery's plans. Johan Manzambi and Ibrahim Mbaye are set to feature further, but Emery admits the break is 'crazy' and will hinder training cohesion ahead of the showdown.