Opposition watch | Aston Villa

The Premier League is back and we face in-form Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday (2pm). Here's a closer look at Unai Emery's men...

Form

Villa responded to a 3-0 loss against Liverpool on 3 September by putting together a run of six wins in eight, losing just once, banging in goals left, right and centre, including six of the best against Brighton and four against West Ham. That run also included a 1-0 win at Chelsea and Villa are up to fifth, racking up 27 goals, currently bettered only by Manchester City. Indeed, since the end of this season’s first international break (16 September onwards), Villa have won more games (six) and picked up more points (19) than any other side in the division. All that made a 2-0 loss at Forest last time out on the road all the more surprising, although they they beat Fulham 3-1 before the international break. Villa have also won three of four in the European Conference League, so, good times at the moment for the team from Birmingham, B6.

Players to watch

Ollie Watkins has six goals and five assists to his name so far, his performances recognised by Gareth Southgate and a start in England's Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia. Douglas Luiz, meanwhile, has already contributed five goals from midfield. John McGinn is the driving force in those key central areas and was on target last time out against Fulham. Ezri Konsa continues to impress at centre-back and earned a call into the latest England squad, alongside Watkins. It looks like being a fascinating battle of the full-backs with Matty Cash and Lucas Digne always ready to fly forward in Unai Emery's 4-2-2-2 system but, hopefully, they'll have their hands full with Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro.

Manager - Unai Emery

Villa were 16th in the Premier League when Unai Emery arrived in place of Steven Gerrard in November, 2022. By the end of the season in May, they'd finished seventh. Club records tumbled in that time as Villa won five on the trot in the Premier League for the first time since 1998 and seven at home on the spin for the first time since 1992/93. A professional at Segunda Division level in Spain, Emery's hat-trick of Europa League titles (2014-2016) in charge at Sevilla caught the eye of PSG, and he won the treble in France in 2017/18 but lost out to Barcelona and then Real Madrid in the Champions League. Arsenal came calling in 2018, but he didn't have the best of times at the Emirates - although he did reach another Europa League Final, beaten this time by Chelsea in 2019 - before returning to Spain and Villareal in November, 2019. Incredibly, he landed another Europa League title - his fourth - before moving back to the Premier League.

Last time we met

One to forget at Villa Park at the end of last season, 13 May. Villa controlled from the off - we didn't register a shot in the first half - and led early through Jacob Ramsey. Fraser Forster was in fine form to keep Villa at bay, but they added a second via Douglas Luiz's free-kick on 72 minutes. Harry Kane replied late from the penalty spot, but it only proved a consolation.

How to follow

Sunday's match will be televised live by Sky Sports with live radio commentary on BBC Five Live. You can also listen to BBC Radio London's commentary via our Match Centre here on tottenhamhotspur.com and the Spurs Official app, where you’ll also find minute-by-minute text, goal alerts, stats and much more. Video highlights will be available on SPURSPLAY from 6pm, with the full 90 minutes available to watch on demand from midnight. Also, look out for our Warm Up and Review Show with pre-match analysis and post-match reaction  from presenter Ben Haines, club commentator Rob Daly and pundit, legendary former striker Clive Allen, on SPURSPLAY and YouTube. Worldwide broadcast listings are available via the link on this page...