Can Tottenham Hotspur win a Premier League match for the first time this season? First and foremost, can Tottenham Hotspur score a Premier League goal for the first time since season? Back-to-back defeats against Brentford and Newcastle have been followed by successive goalless draws with Nottingham Forest and Everton, all of which leave the Lilywhites 17th.... again.
Roberto De Zerbi's side did score in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, Conor Gallagher turning in from close range, albeit this came during a 3-1 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield. So now, ahead of Saturday lunchtime's clash with Aston Villa, should Spurs fans be feeling confident?
Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa all-time head-to-head record
Matches Played: 175.
Tottenham Hotspur Wins: 79. Draws: 34. Aston Villa Wins: 62.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa: Last five results
Alarmingly, for the majority of those set to be in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, their team's recent record against Aston Villa is horrendous. Spurs have lost seven of their last ten encounters with the Claret and Blue Army, with Villa recently enjoying four successive victories over them for the first time since 1996.
This sequence includes knocking Tottenham out of the FA Cup in both of the last two seasons, thereby now seeking a third successive victory in N17. However, this streak did come to an end in May, as Spurs claimed one of the most important results of their modern history.
Falling in between the two legs of their Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest, Unai Emery rotated his entire team for Tottenham's visit to Villa Park. Thus, a demotivated and incoherent Villa were beaten 2-1 by a fighting for their lives Tottenham, with Gallagher and Richarlison the scorers. These three points proved to be the difference between survival and relegation.
The last time Tottenham beat Aston Villa in North London was almost two years ago. Ange Postecoglou was still in charge, while Son Heung-min and Dejan Kuluševski were in the starting lineup that day. Things change so fast, don't they?
The good news for Spurs fans is that the Villans are not faring much better right now. They are actually below Tottenham in the table, having picked up just one point and scored only one goal in the league thus far. Nevertheless, fair to say no Tottenham fan is taking anyone lightly right now.