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Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League misery deepened on Saturday. A 3-2 home defeat to Aston Villa in the fifth round left the London club still searching for their first win of the season.

Roberto De Zerbi's side slipped to a third league defeat of the campaign, against two draws, in a match that saw Egypt's Omar Marmoush start. Villa, meanwhile, picked up their first three points of the season.

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Spurs went into the game desperate to right the ship after four rounds without a victory. Defeats to Brentford and Newcastle opened the campaign, before goalless draws with Nottingham Forest and Everton followed.

Their problems ran beyond the league. A 3-1 loss to Liverpool dumped them out of the EFL Cup, ramping up the pressure on De Zerbi and his players.

An injury that compounds the troubles: Aston Villa strike

An early blow rocked Tottenham. Spain right-back Pedro Porro went down in the 17th minute, dropping to the pitch as the medical staff rushed on.

Medics tried to check on Porro and get him back on his feet, but the defender could not continue. De Zerbi was forced into an emergency change barely a minute later.

On came Archie Gray for Porro in the 18th minute, Tottenham's first forced change of the afternoon.

You can discuss the topics and news in greater depth in the "Kooora" forums

Porro's injury was not the end of it. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Villa struck the opener.

The goal arrived in the 45+4th minute, born of a joint error between the Tottenham defence and their goalkeeper. Boubacar Kamara swung a cross into the box and Yohann Manzambi lashed it into the net.

A disallowed goal, then a second strike

Spurs came out fighting after the break. Substitute Mohammed Kudus thought he had levelled in the 60th minute, but VAR chalked it off for offside against Robertson.

Villa doubled their lead in the 67th minute. Jackson collected a pass from Manzambi, beat his marker and dinked in a tame effort that somehow deceived the Tottenham keeper and crept in.

Tottenham kept probing for a route back, but Villa landed another blow in the 79th minute through a stunning Emiliano Buendia strike.

A slick move and a string of Villa passes set it up. John McGinn rolled it along the ground to Buendia, who thrashed it home.

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Tottenham break their scoring drought

Relief finally came in the 86th minute. Conor Gallagher ended a 446-minute wait for a Premier League goal this season, pouncing on a low cross from Kudus to fire in Tottenham's first of the campaign.

Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke added a second in the eighth minute of stoppage time, but it was too little, too late to spare Spurs the defeat.

The result leaves Tottenham stuck on two points, down in 18th. Villa move up to 15th on four points after their first win of the season.

Tottenham were humiliated in front of their own supporters following a 3-2 defeat against Aston Villa in the Premier League. De Zerbi's side remain without a league victory after defensive frailties cost them dearly in north London.

The visitors broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when Johan Manzambi converted a pass from Boubacar Kamara from inside the penalty area. Nicolas Jackson and Emiliano Buendia then extended the advantage after the interval.

Spurs staged a late fightback as substitute Conor Gallagher and Jan Paul van Hecke found the net in the dying minutes. However, the hosts simply ran out of time to complete the comeback and avoid another frustrating loss.

Manzambi was the undisputed star of the show for Unai Emery's team. After opening the scoring, he provided the assist for Jackson, who volleyed powerfully into the bottom corner past a helpless Antonin Kinsky in the 67th minute.

That contribution etched Manzambi's name into the club's record books. He became only the second player to both score and assist on their first Premier League start for Aston Villa, following in the footsteps of Kevin Phillips against Bolton Wanderers in August 2005.

The final whistle confirmed a grim milestone for the hosts at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs have now lost 50 of their 141 Premier League fixtures at the modern venue.

To put that dismal home record into perspective, north London rivals Arsenal have suffered the exact same number of defeats across 382 top-flight matches at the Emirates Stadium.

Things are equally bleak in the current league table for De Zerbi. His team sit 18th with just two points from their opening five games, having only scored their first two goals of the campaign during this narrow 3-2 loss.

While Tottenham spiral deeper into an early-season crisis, Villa will breathe a massive sigh of relief. The victory serves as their first triumph of the new campaign after a sluggish start. Having previously recorded one draw and three defeats, Emery’s men climbed to 15th in the Premier League standings on four points.

De Zerbi must now urgently address his team's defensive vulnerabilities and lack of cutting edge. Failure to turn their fortunes around quickly could see the pressure mount further on the Tottenham manager.

Italian manager Roberto De Zerbi, the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, suffered two painful blows during the first half of the clash with Aston Villa, which brought the two sides together today, Saturday, in the fifth round of the Premier League.

Spurs' troubles began early. Spain's Pedro Porro, the team's right-back, picked up an injury in the 17th minute, collapsing on the pitch as Tottenham's medical staff rushed to his side.

The medical staff tried to check on Porro and help him continue, but the defender simply couldn't carry on. That left De Zerbi to make an enforced substitution just a minute later.

Off came Pedro Porro, with teammate Archie Gray brought on in his place in the 18th minute. It was Tottenham's first enforced change of the match.

You can discuss the topics and news in greater depth in the "Kooora" forums

Tottenham's suffering didn't stop at Porro's injury. The team was dealt another blow in first-half stoppage time as Aston Villa broke the deadlock in the 45+4th minute.

A joint error from Tottenham's defence and goalkeeper opened the door. Boubacar Kamara delivered a cross into the penalty area, and Youri Manzambi met it with a powerful strike to place the ball into the net.

According to the Squawka statistics network, Tottenham have failed to win any of their last 36 Premier League matches in which they conceded the opening goal. The last time the team came from behind to win was against Aston Villa on 3 November 2024.

De Zerbi's side are still searching for their first Premier League win this season after a stumbling start. They lost to Brentford and Newcastle in the opening two rounds, then drew goalless with Nottingham Forest and Everton. Their woes also extended to the EFL Cup, where they crashed out with a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi suffered an early blow during Saturday's clash with Aston Villa in the fifth round of the Premier League.

Pedro Porro went down in the 17th minute. The Spain right-back sustained an injury that prevented him from completing the game.

Tottenham's medical staff rushed on to examine Porro and check on his condition, but the defender could not continue, forcing De Zerbi into an early change.

You can discuss the topics and news in greater depth in the "Kooora" forums

De Zerbi withdrew Porro and sent on Archie Gray in his place in the 18th minute, the first forced change of the match.

The injury does not just hurt Tottenham and their coach. It may also carry repercussions for the Spain national team, given Porro's involvement with them in the coming period.

Luis de la Fuente had named his new squad for La Roja, preparing for the start of their UEFA Nations League campaign for the 2026-2027 season, and Porro featured in it.

The nature of the injury should become clear over the coming hours, along with any chance he has of making the upcoming international fixtures. Spain's coaching staff will be waiting on the player's medical report.

You can discuss the topics and news in greater depth in the "Kooora" forums

Porro's injury lands at a time when Tottenham are chasing their first Premier League win of the season, after a faltering start.

Spurs lost to Brentford and Newcastle in the opening two rounds, then drew goalless with Nottingham and Everton, still searching for that elusive first win.

Their struggles were not confined to the league. The team also exited the Carabao Cup after losing 3-1 to Liverpool.

Today's game between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa will kick off at 12:30.

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This match is available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Subscribers can also stream the game via HBO Max.

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Tottenham Hotspur host Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in a Premier League fixture that finds both clubs in the lower reaches of the table and under pressure to deliver.

Roberto De Zerbi's side have made another sluggish start to the 2026-27 campaign. The Italian has drawn praise and criticism in equal measure since taking charge in north London, and with Spurs sitting 17th in the Premier League, the margin for error is shrinking.

Aston Villa arrive in similarly uncomfortable territory, sitting 19th. Unai Emery will be looking for a response after a 1-2 Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend, though Villa did progress in the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 win over Coventry City on Tuesday.

Tammy Abraham was the standout performer in that cup tie, scoring twice to silence any lingering doubts about his future at Villa Park following summer transfer speculation. His form will be a boost for Emery heading into the weekend.

There is a subplot at Villa too. Chelsea loanee Alejandro Garnacho was an unused substitute against Coventry, with Emery publicly noting the winger is a little behind his teammates in terms of fitness and match sharpness. The Argentine will be pushing for involvement here.

At the other end of the pitch, Spurs have their own attacking concerns. De Zerbi is reportedly exploring options to address a goal shortage, with the team having failed to score in three of their last four Premier League outings.

For TV channel and live stream information, scroll down for everything you need to know about where to watch this fixture.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa with VPN

If you are travelling abroad or just want to access your usual streaming services from a different part of the world, you may run into geo-restrictions. This is where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) comes in handy.

A VPN, such as ExpressVPN, allows you to establish a secure, encrypted connection online. By virtually changing your location to a country where the game is being broadcast, you can bypass blackout restrictions and watch your favourite team live. A step-by-step guide is described later in this article, or you can also check out our guide to the best VPNs for streaming sports.

Form

Tottenham head into this match having won one, drawn two, and lost two of their last five games across all competitions. Their most recent outing was a 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool on September 15. Earlier in that run, Spurs drew 0-0 with both Everton and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, and suffered a 0-2 loss to Newcastle United on August 29. Their sole win came against Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup, a 5-1 victory on August 26. Across those five matches, Spurs scored seven goals and conceded eight.

Aston Villa have recorded two wins, one draw, and two defeats in their last five outings. Their most recent result was Tuesday's 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Coventry City. Before that, Villa lost 1-2 to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on September 12. They beat Club Brugge 3-2 in the Champions League on September 8, drew 0-0 with Hull City, and lost 0-1 to Arsenal on August 31. Villa have scored six goals and conceded five across those five games.

Head-to-Head Record

The most recent meeting between these two clubs came on May 3, 2026, when Aston Villa beat Tottenham 1-2 in a Premier League fixture at Villa Park. Across the last five head-to-head matches, Villa have won four times and Tottenham once. That solitary Spurs victory came in a Premier League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in October 2025, which ended 1-2 in favour of Villa — the away side winning on that occasion as well. Villa have also beaten Spurs twice in FA Cup ties during this stretch.

Standings

In the Premier League table, Tottenham currently sit 17th and Aston Villa are 19th.

Step-by-step VPN guide to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa today

NordVPN

Download & Install: Sign up to ExpressVPN or another reputable VPN service (check out GOAL's guide here) and download the app on your device.

Connect to a Server: Open the app and select a server location where the match is being shown (e.g. if you are in the UK but want to watch a US stream, connect to a US server).

Clear Cache: Sometimes your browser holds onto your old location. Clear your cookies or refresh your browser to ensure the change takes effect.

Start Streaming: Go to your broadcaster's website and app and enjoy the game.

How to watch on the Big Screen

Watching on your phone or laptop is fine, but live sports belongs on the big screen. Here is how to get the VPN working on your TV:

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa with a VPN

Gemini

A VPN, such as ExpressVPN, allows you to establish a secure, encrypted connection online. By virtually changing your location to a country where the game is being broadcast, you can bypass blackout restrictions and watch your favourite team live. A step-by-step guide is described later in this article, or you can also check out our guide to the best VPNs for streaming sports.

Today's game between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa will kick off at 19 Sept 2026, 12:30.

Step-by-step VPN guide to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa today

NordVPN

Download & Install: Sign up to ExpressVPN or another reputable VPN service (check out GOAL's guide here) and download the app on your device.

Connect to a Server: Open the app and select a server location where the match is being shown (e.g. if you are in the UK but want to watch a US stream, connect to a US server).

Clear Cache: Sometimes your browser holds onto your old location. Clear your cookies or refresh your browser to ensure the change takes effect.

Start Streaming: Go to your broadcaster's website and app and enjoy the game.

How to watch on the Big Screen

Watching on your phone or laptop is fine, but live sports belongs on the big screen. Here is how to get the VPN working on your TV:

Smart TVs & Fire Stick: Most Android-based TVs and devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick or Google Chromecast with Google TV have native VPN apps. Simply search for your VPN provider in the app store on your TV, log in, and connect just like you would on your phone.

Apple TV, Roku & Consoles: These devices often don't support direct VPN apps. The easiest workaround is to use Smart DNS (usually found in your VPN account settings) or Mirror/Cast the stream from your VPN-connected phone or laptop to your TV.

Team news & squads

Roberto De Zerbi will be without Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Pedro Porro through injury. Mudryk, who joined on loan from Chelsea during the summer, has already picked up a knock since arriving in north London. The projected Spurs XI reads: Kinsky; van Hecke, van de Ven, Gray, Robertson; Tonali, Fernandes, Bentancur; Marmoush, Savio; Solanke.

Unai Emery is dealing with an injury list of his own, with Amadou Onana, Leon Goretzka, Brian Madjo, Pau Torres, and Ian Maatsen all sidelined. Garnacho is available but faces a fight for minutes after being left on the bench in the midweek cup tie. Villa's projected lineup is: Suzuki; Mings, Wan-Bissaka, Ruggeri, Lindelof; Buendia, Kamara, Barkley, Hemmings; McGinn; Jackson.

Form

Tottenham head into this fixture with one win, two draws, and two defeats from their last five matches across all competitions. Their most recent result was a 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool on September 15, and they have failed to score in three of their last four Premier League outings, including back-to-back 0-0 draws against Everton and Nottingham Forest. Their sole win in the run came against Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup, a 5-1 victory on August 26. Spurs have scored six goals and conceded seven across those five matches.

Aston Villa have recorded two wins, one draw, and two defeats in their last five. Their most recent result was Tuesday's 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Coventry City, following a 2-3 Champions League victory away at Club Brugge on September 8. Villa's defeats came against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and Arsenal on August 31. Across five matches, Villa have scored seven goals and conceded six.

Head-to-Head Record

The most recent meeting between these sides came in the Premier League on May 3, 2026, when Aston Villa beat Tottenham 2-1 at Villa Park. Before that, Villa won 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in an FA Cup tie in January 2026. Across the last five head-to-head meetings, Aston Villa have won four times and Tottenham once, with Villa scoring ten goals and conceding five in those fixtures.

Standings

In the Premier League table, Tottenham currently sit 17th while Aston Villa are 19th, giving this fixture added urgency for both sides early in the campaign.

Tottenham fans have faced a grueling wait to see Kulusevski back in competitive action, with the Sweden international absent since the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign. A severe right patella injury essentially placed his career on a 19-month hiatus, a period that saw him cruelly forced to miss out on the summer World Cup.

However, after a lengthy rehabilitation process that included a minor setback during his initial return attempt in August, the 26-year-old is finally back in full training with the senior squad, providing a massive psychological lift to a side currently searching for their first league win of the season.

While the upcoming clash against Aston Villa on Saturday will come too soon for a matchday involvement, the technical staff is eyeing a competitive comeback in October or November.

Addressing the media regarding the Swede's status, De Zerbi was full of praise for both the player's ability and his character during a difficult period away from the pitch. "We have to manage Deki in the best way we can, with the medical staff, physical staff, but it’s a great thing for us," the former Brighton boss explained. "He’s a good player, he’s a good guy and he deserves to play again."

Kulusevski’s importance to the Spurs setup cannot be overstated, particularly given his influential form prior to the injury. He was widely considered the club's standout performer during a turbulent 2024/25 season before the knee issue forced him to sit out the entirety of the following year.

Kulusevski is not the only high-profile creative talent working his way back to full sharpness. James Maddison has also endured a frustrating cycle of injuries, including an ACL tear last August that required a heroic effort to return for the end of the previous season. Despite helping Spurs avoid the drop, Maddison has dealt with further shoulder complications during the current campaign.

Speaking on Maddison's fitness and his unique impact on the pitch, De Zerbi noted that the 29-year-old offers qualities that are rare within the current squad. The manager confirmed that Roberto De Zerbi updates on the availability of Pedro Porro, Sandro Tonali and James Maddison, indicating that all three are in contention for the Villa match. "Listen, James is working with the team in the last 10, 15 days. Maybe less than 15 days and even if he’s a technical player, he needs to be fit, to stay in a good condition."

Tottenham enter the weekend in a precarious position, having failed to secure a victory or even score a single goal in their first four Premier League outings. This poor run of form has put pressure on the new regime, but the manager remains steadfast in his belief that the results will follow if the players maintain their composure.

The availability of Pedro Porro and Sandro Tonali, both of whom missed the midweek cup defeat to Liverpool, provides further depth for a squad that has looked stretched in recent weeks.

Tottenham fans have faced a grueling wait to see Kulusevski back in competitive action, with the Sweden international absent since the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign. A severe right patella injury essentially placed his career on a 19-month hiatus, a period that saw him cruelly forced to miss out on the summer World Cup.

However, after a lengthy rehabilitation process that included a minor setback during his initial return attempt in August, the 26-year-old is finally back in full training with the senior squad, providing a massive psychological lift to a side currently searching for their first league win of the season.

While the upcoming clash against Aston Villa on Saturday will come too soon for a matchday involvement, the technical staff is eyeing a competitive comeback in October or November.

Addressing the media regarding the Swede's status, De Zerbi was full of praise for both the player's ability and his character during a difficult period away from the pitch. "We have to manage Deki in the best way we can, with the medical staff, physical staff, but it’s a great thing for us," the former Brighton boss explained. "He’s a good player, he’s a good guy and he deserves to play again."

Kulusevski’s importance to the Spurs setup cannot be overstated, particularly given his influential form prior to the injury. He was widely considered the club's standout performer during a turbulent 2024/25 season before the knee issue forced him to sit out the entirety of the following year.

Kulusevski is not the only high-profile creative talent working his way back to full sharpness. James Maddison has also endured a frustrating cycle of injuries, including an ACL tear last August that required a heroic effort to return for the end of the previous season. Despite helping Spurs avoid the drop, Maddison has dealt with further shoulder complications during the current campaign.

Speaking on Maddison's fitness and his unique impact on the pitch, De Zerbi noted that the 29-year-old offers qualities that are rare within the current squad. The manager confirmed that Roberto De Zerbi updates on the availability of Pedro Porro, Sandro Tonali and James Maddison, indicating that all three are in contention for the Villa match. "Listen, James is working with the team in the last 10, 15 days. Maybe less than 15 days and even if he’s a technical player, he needs to be fit, to stay in a good condition."

Tottenham enter the weekend in a precarious position, having failed to secure a victory or even score a single goal in their first four Premier League outings. This poor run of form has put pressure on the new regime, but the manager remains steadfast in his belief that the results will follow if the players maintain their composure.

The availability of Pedro Porro and Sandro Tonali, both of whom missed the midweek cup defeat to Liverpool, provides further depth for a squad that has looked stretched in recent weeks.

Former Tottenham Hotspur man Jamie O'Hara made 93 appearances in the English top flight. He says Spurs sit only 17th after a poor start to the season because the level of competition in the Premier League is so high.

Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: "The Premier League is like a Super League. Nobody can compete with it." Asked by Jason Cundy, another former England Under-21 international, where Tottenham would finish in the Bundesliga, O'Hara said: "I would say in second place, but it would be a title battle with Bayern Munich."

Then the 39-year-old went further: "In Ligue 1, PSG and Tottenham would fight it out between themselves, and in LaLiga it would be a three-way battle (with Barcelona and Real Madrid; ed.). I may be a Tottenham fan, but I believe the same about Bournemouth as well. Spurs could win the Bundesliga 100 per cent. You only have to beat Bayern Munich, that's enough. In LaLiga there would be three good teams - that shows the strength of the Premier League."

Cundy was not convinced and asked about Atletico Madrid. After all, the Rojiblancos had knocked Tottenham out of the Champions League last season. "They are weak," was O'Hara's verdict on the Champions League semi-finalists coached by Diego Simeone. "They only look good because they play in a weak league. We would finish third there. I don't think what I'm saying is nonsense."

His view of Serie A is no better: "The Premier League is too strong for everyone else. Last night I watched Milan (in the 2-0 defeat to Benfica in the Europa League; ed.) - they are complete rubbish." That is why the Europa League is so boring as well: "The English teams get to the final anyway."

Last season, Aston Villa, a Premier League representative, did indeed win Europe's second most important competition. The Birmingham club beat Freiburg in the final, while Nottingham Forest joined them as another English club in the semi-finals.

Things were different in the Champions League in 2025/26. PSG beat English champions Arsenal in the final in Budapest. However, Liverpool were the only other team from the Premier League to reach the quarter-finals of Europe's premier club competition.

How did Tottenham start the season in the Premier League?

Many still regard England's top flight as the strongest division in Europe. That is also down to the clubs' enormous financial resources. In the completed transfer window, the 20 clubs spent €3.77 billion on new players in a veritable buying frenzy, around five times as much as the Bundesliga clubs.

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Tottenham, O'Hara's beloved club, also spent heavily and, for €202 million, signed midfield stars Sandro Tonali (26, came from Newcastle United) and Mateus Fernandes (21, came from West Ham United), as well as winger Savinho (22, came from Manchester City). So far, though, that has not shown up in the results: Roberto De Zerbi's team are still waiting for their first win after four matchdays and, with two points and still without a goal, sit only just above the relegation zone.

A 17-year wait for major silverware was brought to a close in 2025, as Ange Postecoglou oversaw a memorable Europa League triumph, but back-to-back 17th-place finishes have been endured in English top-flight competition.

Nerves have been shredded at times, with the very real threat of relegation looming large at various intervals. Roberto De Zerbi was the man to steer a ship springing some rather alarming leaks towards safety last term.

He was given an impressive transfer kitty with which to work over the summer, and spent big on the likes of Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Savio. Fresh faces have failed to deliver an upturn in fortune, with Spurs going goalless through their opening four Premier League fixtures to occupy an all too familiar position in the table.

The tide should turn at some stage, but pressure is already building as more uncomfortable questions are asked of the direction in which the club are heading. Quizzed on where he sees Tottenham finishing this season, Zamora - who was speaking in association with BetWright Premier League betting - told GOAL: “I think they'll be in the top 10. I really think so, and I think the following season they'll really kick on - provided he's [De Zerbi] given enough time. I do think that they will do well.

“I haven't spoken to anybody. [Jan Paul] van Hecke's there, I haven't really spoken to him, obviously I know him from Brighton. I know JP really liked him at Brighton. Really liked him. And he helped JP a lot. So, I'm guessing that he knows and understands how Roberto works a little bit more than the others.

“I've got friends that are Spurs fans, and I actually said they're going to struggle, they're going to start to pick up points later on, and next year's the season where you'll actually go, ‘oh, actually, I'm glad we've got him’. But that's my take. I may be wrong!”

While a top-half standing would represent a step in the right direction for Spurs, it would see them fall short of the target that Zamora set back in February when it comes to retaining ‘Big Six’ status.

He told GOAL at that time, when asked how much longer Tottenham can realistically claim to form part of that elite pack: “For a team like Spurs, I think you can probably only go under the radar for two years. That third year, which will be next season [2026-27], you have to deliver some sort of performance. You have to be in that top six and consistently look like you are there.

“I’ve got a lot of friends who are Spurs fans and they are pulling their hair out, and have done for the last year. They cannot believe what is going on. It’s a huge club with massive potential.”

Tottenham have been struggling to turn potential into something more tangible for a while. Their unexpected tumble under Postecoglou was considered to be an uncharacteristic wobble at the time, with European success papering over any cracks, but the rot has set in.

De Zerbi is yet to provide long-term solutions to questions that have been hanging over north London for longer than many care to remember, with a home date against Aston Villa on Saturday set to carry them into another international break and an opportunity to gather collective thoughts.