Aston Villa had waited five league games for a win, but Saturday’s 3-2 victory at Tottenham finally gave Unai Emery’s rebuilt side some breathing room. Johan Manzambi opened the scoring on his full debut, while the £65m summer signing Nicolas Jackson doubled the advantage after the break with a sharp touch and finish. Emi Buendia then made it 3-0 before Spurs launched a late fightback. Conor Gallagher and Jan Paul van Hecke pulled two goals back, yet Villa held on.
John Townley’s report for Birmingham Live highlighted the striker’s influence, while Alan Shearer offered the strongest assessment on Match of the Day. The Premier League’s record goalscorer praised his aggression, physical strength and repeated runs behind the defence.
Shearer said Tottenham’s centre-backs “couldn’t live with him” and described the finish as “absolutely outstanding”. He added that consistency could make him a “very cute signing”. The comments underline why Emery wanted him as Ollie Watkins’ replacement.
“I loved his performance. He gave the two centre-halves a torrid afternoon and he battered them,” Shearer said.
“His physicality and mentality, running in behind, he was just too good for them. I loved this, the aggression.
“So many times he found himself in that position, just in between the two centre-halves. That was the start of things to come.
“They couldn’t live with him. As soon as the ball goes backwards, he’s away and he’s running.
“The touch and the finish [for his goal] is absolutely outstanding. You’ve got to look to him for consistency. If he keeps doing that, he could be a very cute signing.”
How has the £65m forward changed Aston Villa?
Jackson has already given Emery a different attacking option. Watkins offered a more familiar central threat, whereas Jackson can drop deeper, drift into wider areas and attack channels at speed. That movement can drag centre-backs away from their positions and create gaps for runners such as Manzambi and Buendia.
His first four Premier League starts have produced one goal, while he has added one Champions League appearance and one EFL Cup outing. Those numbers remain small, but his role already looks clear. Jackson provides an outlet when Villa win the ball and can turn a defensive recovery into a forward attack within seconds.
The Tottenham goal showed the value of that profile. A quick delivery released him into space, and his first touch took him away from pressure before he finished cleanly. His height helps him absorb contact, yet his game depends just as much on timing and movement.
There are still concerns. Jackson can rush chances, and his finishing has sometimes lacked consistency. Two yellow cards in his first four league starts further show how his aggression can become costly.