Continuing our '60 seconds on...' preview feature, where we take a closer look at our next opponents with the people who watch them week in, week out.
Villa are next up after the latest international break, so we've tapped into the knowledge of Jacob Tanswell - @J_Tanswell - Football Writers' Association Student Football Writer of the Year. in 2021, now Villa reporter for The Athletic.
What have you made of Villa's season so far?
Jacob: "Villa’s season has been tumultuous already. It started in the summer with the transfer window, of course, it didn't go their way, owing to various financial restrictions, so that made coming into the season and its preparations difficult. You saw that on the pitch, really. New signings came late in the window, three signings came on deadline day, and that start to the season - a draw against Everton, the draw against Sunderland, having had an extra player for over an hour, the 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace - was very difficult. But, as I'll come on to, they've started to pick up a little bit. The new signings are being integrated and it's a bit more of a lift and more confidence because previously the squad looked flat, it looked devoid of energy, ideas, and now they've got a bit more confidence."
Which of the new signings have caught the eye?
Jacob: "In fairness, the three deadline day signings in Jadon Sancho, Victor Lindelof and Harvey Elliott have barely featured, so you have to go a little bit further back. Evann Guessand, the winger/striker from Nice, is starting to grow, he's starting more games and he's showing flashes of his talent. But I would say the signing of the summer so far is the back-up keeper, Marco Bizot. Obviously with Emi Martinez out of the team, be it through injury or possibly a transfer away, he's had to come in and play more games than he probably would have expected. Every time he's played, he's been very reliable, he's shown a great attitude, he's very well liked by Emery and his staff, and he's a very capable understudy."
Four wins on the trot suggest things are starting to click - is that fair?
Jacob: "Things are starting to click. They're probably fixtures that Villa would have expected to win at the start of the season and certainly last season as well, but given their lack of confidence and essentially the, I wouldn't say crisis, but the varying issues around the club, it's been a really big confidence booster. They've been better, they've shown glimpses of improvement every game, they're still not the finished article and there's still a long way to go to get back to what they were last season and the year before that, But they're starting to show the old version of Villa in terms of controlling games, in terms of showing a bit more attacking prowess and generally sticking to the principles and ideal of Emery."
Anything different tactically this season from Unai Emery?
Jacob: "Emery's broadly kept the same structure, the same formations, the same on-pitch patterns. But what he has shown is something that he's always been great at is in terms of adapting game by game, just using subtle tweaks. You saw against Burnley, Donyell Malen started the game and it was probably the first time in a long time we've seen two strikers up top with Marlin essentially playing just behind Ollie Watkins. So, that was something different. As I say, overall the system, the personnel remains largely the same, but during games there are certain tweaks you see, be it a player's positioning or a directness in their play and it depends on the opposition. Emery has always been great at that and you've seen that in the last couple of games."
Who would be your 'one to watch' from Villa?
Jacob: "John McGinn's been Villa's best player so far this season and he's been ably assisted by Lamare Bogarde who's come into the team a young player and he's taken to it very well. He's adapted brilliantly and those two have really performed. McGinn's a big goal threat. I would say the one to watch is probably Donyell Malen. If he manages to play the game, he's put in a great performance against Burnley. He's been very bright in all his appearances so far this season. That game against Burnley was a proper performance because he started the game, he played well and he's always lively. He's always wanting to be direct and really drive at defenders, so he's certainly, I think, the one to watch."
How do you think it will pan out on Sunday?
Jacob: "It will be a difficult game for Villa. Even last season when Tottenham weren't at their best, Villa lost that game. If you go the year before that, Villa lose very rarely at home and Tottenham did that at Villa Park. This is a different game, obviously a different manager, but I think it's going to be a tight game where Villa will look to hang in there for large periods, look to settle and nullify Tottenham's best strengths and come into the game in the second half. They've done that previously at the stadium, so I think it will go like that. I would say that it will be a 1-1 draw."
Last time vs Villa in N17...