BBC

'We wanted to show the right reaction'

FT: Newcastle 2-1 Hull

Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We showed an incredible reaction after the defeat at Leeds. The first half was excellent, we could have killed the game with a third goal for sure. We were totally dominant and then in the second half you saw the legs were getting tired towards the end - but we were also missing nine players today. I am really proud and I want to show them respect for what they did at the end of the game when it was tough. To defend their own box, everyone was committed and really fighting for the three points. This is something we can count on."

On his side's fast start: "As I said, we wanted to show the right reaction after Leeds and this is something we are very proud of - and we could deliver when it is needed. We wanted to also show a clear reaction in front of ours. Overall, when you see the 90 minutes, it was a deserved win."

On his start to life as Newcastle manager: "Overall, really satisfied. You see a couple of challenges already from the outside, and you also know there is a huge transition at the moment in the club. And in these circumstances, we are really proud of what we have seen so far from the lads, fully committed to the journey. Now it is time to reflect and also hopefully get some players back from injury."

'Very painful'

FT: Brighton 3-0 Arsenal

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to MOTD: "First of all congratulations to Brighton. I am really disappointed. In the first 20 or 30 minutes the number of technical errors put us constantly under pressure. It was all related to the start.

"It's a big lesson to learn. What the team has done since the World Cup has been remarkable. But today there is a lot to learn.

"Credit to Brighton for what they have done. I think we were very far from our level. The international break means we have more time to swallow because it's very, very painful. In any game you can get highly exposed if don't do what you need to do."

'Result is harsh on us'

FT: Everton 1-0 Ipswich

Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town manager Gary O'Neil speaking to Premier League Productions: "I thought we had a good go today and the result is harsh on the lads. We restricted Everton to not very much. Really unlucky with the goal, played some good stuff but lacked quality when we got in front of goal.

"If we keep playing like that we will give teams a game every week and we just need to keep repeating that."

On Abdul Fatawu: "I've spoken to him, he's a young lad, you can see he is anticipating some contact. I've seen them given and I've seen them not given. He understands the importance of him being on the pitch and us keeping 11 on the pitch, but he has been a great addition.

"The bigger picture today is what the lads managed to produce against a good Everton side. They were the better side for long periods with 10 men.

"Pleased with the start [to the season]. Every game we have had a right go. We have been more than competitive and we just need to make sure we keep that going."

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Antonin Kinsky: Made a comfortable save from Manzambi's strike before a better one thwarted Buendia. There was little he could do to stop the goals. 6

Pedro Porro: Back after missing the draws against Nottingham Forest and Everton but his returned lasted 18 minutes as he limped off injured. Had made a positive start. 6

Jan Paul van Hecke: It looked a robust performance as he handled the nuisance of Jackson when Villa did venture forward but he was beaten by Manzambi to the ball for the opener. Scored late consolation. 6

Micky van de Ven: Took a blow to the face just before the break and was off the pitch for treatment when Villa scored, which summed up Spurs' afternoon. 5

Andrew Robertson: Made a mistake in trying to keep the ball in, which eventually led to Villa's first. Thought he had atoned, only to be ruled offside in the build-up to Kudus' disallowed goal. 5

Sandro Tonali: One first-half strike whistled wide but it was another underwhelming outing for the £100m midfielder. 5

Rodrigo Bentancur: Enjoyed the battle in an occasionally congested midfield but his influenced waned as the game wore on. 5

Savio: The forward should have put Spurs ahead early and an excellent volley was kept out by Suzuki, but after a strong opening 25 minutes he failed to build. 5

Mateus Fernandes: Replaced at half-time as Tottenham chased the game, the former West Ham midfielder the victim of the circumstances. 6

Omar Marmoush: The Manchester City loanee was brought in to get the goals but it was a listless display once the game started to go away from Tottenham. 5

Dominic Solanke: The striker has not scored in the Premier League since March and could not find a telling touch again. There was little to suggest his drought would end. 5

Subs:

Archie Gray (on 18, Porro): Could have scored with his first touch but was denied by Suzuki. That was as good as it got. 6

Mohammed Kudus (on 46, Fernandes): Came on with Tottenham needing more attacking impetus and had a goal disallowed but was not able to spark. 5

James Maddison (on 66, Solanke): The substitute was unable to make an impact from the bench. 5

Lucas Bergvall (on 84, Bentancur).

Conor Gallagher (on 84, Tonali).

Subs not used: Dubravka, Tosin, Senesi, Udogie.

Zion Suzuki: Kept Villa level with saves from Savio and Archie Gray in the first half. A fine performance but his usually excellent distribution let him down. 8

Aaron Wan-Bissaka: The right-back has struggled to adapt quickly under Unai Emery. One slip almost cost Villa a goal and was little surprise he was withdrawn at half-time. 5

Tyrone Mings: Lost the ball several times as Villa played out from the back but rediscovered his composure after the break. 6

Victor Lindelof: Relatively untroubled in the second half after needing to be alert to Spurs' early threat. Once that died down, it was a comfortable afternoon. 7

Matteo Ruggeri: A full Premier League debut for the left-back but he did not look convincing as he tries to understand what is needed by Emery. 6

Joao Gomes: In his first Premier League appearance after his opening-weekend dismissal, the midfielder was solid and able to protect Villa's lead. 7

Boubacar Kamara: It was the midfielder's shot which fell into the path of Manzambi to score, and he was able to keep Villa moving. 7

John McGinn: His tenacity was rewarded as he seized on Roberton's error to help set up Manzambi's goal. A typically dynamic display. 7

Emi Buendia: The forward loves a goal at Tottenham and scored the pick of the bunch when he found the top corner from 25 yards to seal it. 7

Johan Manzambi: A goal and an assist on his full debut for Villa as he grew into the game after a slow start when Tottenham dominated. More will be expected once he settles in. 8

Nicolas Jackson: Isolated for long spells in the first half but got his goal in the second and was a nuisance. Had earlier forced Kinsky into a smartsave. 7

Subs

Matty Cash (on 46, Wan-Bissaka): The right-back returned from injury to help strengthen Villa's defence. 7

George Hemmings (on 72, Manzambi): Helped Villa to a comfortable win.

Ibrahim Mbaye (on 84, Kamara).

Ross Barkley (on 84, McGinn).

Unused subs: Wright, Bogarde, Abraham, Garnacho, Harwood-Bellis.

More than half a billion spent between them, for just three points and one goal. Tottenham and Aston Villa are in need of Premier League inspiration.

It is not a surprise that a summer of change at both clubs has failed to bring immediate results - but they need to ignite their season.

They meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday as the past two Europa League winners but sitting in the bottom four of the early Premier League table.

With 10 new players, and six key sales - including Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins - Unai Emery is shaping a new Villa team.

Tottenham also added 10 players for more than £300m but goodwill is in short supply after two years of relegation battles. Victory is paramount for both teams.

At VIlla, Emery has credit in the bank after turning them from a team floundering in mid-table to Europa League winners - qualifying for Europe every season since his arrival, and getting them back into the Champions League this year.

This term there is a different remit, to be successful while integrating 10 new players - having spent more than £250m - following the summer exits.

Emery conceded he did not know exactly why Villa lost control during last Saturday's defeat by Nottingham Forest - but knows he was unable to make a significant impact from the touchline with all the new players still fitting in to their new set-up.

He can look frantic in his technical area during games, but has an impressive ability to decompress immediately and speak to the players calmly by the time he has returned to the dressing room.

Emery remains confident Villa will improve yet is relying on John McGinn and Tyrone Mings, as two of the senior players, to help him and the squad through a difficult patch.

It is a reason why both played in Wednesday's Carabao Cup win at Coventry rather than being rested.

Captain McGinn has previously described learning Emery's methods as doing "a lot of homework". That may be why Aaron Wan-Bissaka has struggled in his opening three games as he tries to adapt quickly - the same too for other new signings perhaps overthinking their roles.

An extended three-week break follows Saturday's match. But the head coach will not get the much-needed time on the training ground with his squad, as many go on international duty.

"This break is crazy because it's three weeks," Emery said. "I don't like to be three weeks but we must accept it.

"We are not going to have the players we want. [Johan] Manzambi played the first two matches with us and Saturday the third and then he goes with the national team.

"Back with us, we must again try to join him with us in our structure and his mind will maybe be confused.

"We don't want to use the international break as an excuse.

"Saturday is very important as we lack points but we continue in our process trying to work as well as possible."

Manzambi, brought in from Freiburg, and £47m winger Ibrahim Mbaye, who has moved from Paris St-Germain. made their debuts last weekend, coming off the bench against Forest, and are set to form part of a new attack.

Nicolas Jackson, signed from Chelsea in August, will start on Saturday after coming off the bench at the CBS Arena as Emery gets close to his preferred line-up, with Villa looking to click after notching just one point in their opening four games.

None of the last 22 Premier League meetings between Spurs (15 wins) and Aston Villa (7) have been drawn. Spurs have lost five of the last eight, more than they had in their previous 29 against the Villans (W18 D7 L4).

Aston Villa have won four of their last six Premier League away games against Spurs (L2), more than they had in their previous 21 visits (W3 D5 L13).

Tottenham Hotspur have drawn 0-0 in each of their last two Premier League games, as many times as in their previous 181 matches in the competition; the last side to record three successive goalless draws in the competition was West Ham United in December 2015, with Spurs last doing so in January/February 2001 under George Graham (run of 4).

Only in 1919-20 (first 7), 1964-65 (7) and 2025-26 (5) have Aston Villa failed to win any of their opening five matches of a top-flight league season (D1 L3 so far).

After winning each of his first three encounters with Spurs’ Roberto De Zerbi, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has lost each of the last two meetings, including a 2-1 reverse at Villa Park in May.

Tottenham Hotspur (3.45) and Aston Villa (3.39) rank 19th and 20th in the Premier League so far this season for expected goals. Meanwhile, Spurs are bottom for xG per shot (0.07), and only Hull City (47) have had fewer touches in the opposition’s box than Villa (62).

Alysson’s goal against Nottingham Forest was Aston Villa’s 34th Premier League goal via a substitute since the start of 2023-24. Only Brighton (40) and Arsenal (36) have scored more in that time, with two of Villa’s three goals against Spurs last season coming via subs.

Aston Villa (30.5%) and Tottenham Hotspur (28.7%) rank fifth and seventh in the Premier League this season for the proportion of their attacking touches coming in the middle third, while 58.3% of Villa’s chances have come through the middle third, the highest proportion of any side.

Of the six players to complete 9+ take-ons in the Premier League so far this season, three play for Tottenham Hotspur in Mathys Tel (10/22), Omar Marmoush (9/17) and Sávio (9/23). Last time out against Everton Sávio became the first player this season to complete four take-ons and create four chances from open play.

Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendía has been involved in four Premier League goals against Tottenham Hotspur (3 goals, 1 assist), his most against a single side in the competition – he could become the third visiting player to score in three successive league trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, after Eberechi Eze and Bryan Mbeumo.

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Tottenham and Aston Villa have scored just one league goal between them so far, with both clubs making poor starts to the season. BBC Sport takes a look at the key themes before the game on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Spurs search for spark

In the wake of their Carabao Cup exit to Liverpool, Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi said his side have to find "La Scintilla" (the spark) to kick-start their season and finally score some goals.

This is the first time in the club's 144-year history that they have failed to score in their opening four league matches of a season.

The only time they've ever failed to score in five or more league games at any stage of a campaign was a six-game run between December 1985 to February 1986.

While the sole Premier League side to have ever gone longer than four matches without a goal is Crystal Palace, who took seven matches in 2017-18 before finally breaking their duck.

But that Palace team did go on to finish 11th and none of the other four Premier League teams who also failed to score in their opening four matches ended up finishing lower than that.

Coincidentally, one of those sides was actually Unai Emery's Aston Villa just 12 months ago as they roared into form to eventually finish fourth and lift the Europa League.

De Zerbi's side were much improved in their loss to Liverpool in midweek - actually scoring a goal, registering 17 shots and posting an expected goals tally of 2.34, which is remarkably their highest figure against an English opponent since December 2024.

This slow start was somewhat inevitable after such a huge influx of new players over the summer. Analysis by Opta has uncovered that Tottenham are the 12th team in Premier League history to give 20 or more starts in their first four games of a season to players who didn't play a game for them the season before (excluding promoted teams).

Worryingly for Spurs, only five of the previous 11 teams to do so saw their league position actually improve from one campaign to the next.

A stat doing the rounds in recent weeks has highlighted Tottenham's inability to win a game after conceding the first goal. It now stands at an incredible 47 games in all competitions (D11, L36) dating back to a 4-1 comeback win over Aston Villa in November 2024.

Villa also looking for first win

It is surely no coincidence that the sides to have gone through two of the biggest squad upheavals over the summer have both made such sluggish starts to the campaign.

Aston Villa rank 20th in the Premier League for expected goals this season with their tally of 3.39 marginally worse than opponents Tottenham, while only Hull have had fewer touches in the opposition's box than the Villans' 62. However, unlike Spurs, at least Villa did open their top-flight goalscoring account in their draw with Nottingham Forest last Saturday.

Next on their list will be avoiding equalling an unwanted club record of failing to win any of their first five matches to a top-flight season for the second season running, and for only the fourth time in their history (also 1919-20 and 1964-65).

But Unai Emery is finally getting the chance to call upon most of his new signings having been without the majority of them for a variety of reasons. So far, only four of their 11 summer recruits have started a match for the club - Zion Suzuki (four starts), Nicolas Jackson (four starts), Joao Gomes (two starts) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (two starts) - and no more than three have done so in the same league match.

Villa have enjoyed the upper-hand in this fixture in recent years, winning seven of the past 10 in all competitions, and have been victorious on five of their past seven visits to N17.

However, Spurs' win at Villa Park in May was one of the highlights of an otherwise wretched campaign for the Lilywhites.

When an attacking side accelerate play, it is common for the defending team to drop back in an urgent manner, looking to protect their goal.

When this happens, space opens up in front of the defence, for late-arriving midfielders or clever strikers that drop back.

Omar Marmoush has tried to do this on a number of occasions but has not always been found.

This may be a matter of players requiring time to gel. For Savio, it may also be a wide player struggling to pull the ball back on their weak foot.

Left-footed right-winger Savio is better at getting to the byeline but the left-footed Destiny Udogie and Andy Robertson have created clearer chances via crosses.

At Marseille, both right winger and right full-back were comfortable cutting the ball back on their right foot.

These crosses were maximised by the excellent box-movement of 37-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.