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Donyell Malen has made some interesting comments about Tottenham ahead of Aston Villa’s visit to North London on Sunday.

With the international break done and dusted, the focus shifts to the big clash over the weekend, with the Lilywhites resuming their Premier League campaign with a clash against the Villans at home.

Tottenham have a good record in the fixture that follows the international break, but so do their opponents.

Unai Emery’s men come into the game in very good form, having won their last four across all competitions and being unbeaten in their last five.

Donyell Malen expects a tough test against Tottenham

Malen will be coming up against two of his international teammates on Sunday, with Xavi Simons and Micky van de Ven in line to start for Tottenham.

In fact, Malen started over Xavi for the Netherlands against Finland last weekend, and the 26-year-old found the back of the net as the Dutch emerged 4-0 winners.

The forward, who was signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, expects a tough test for his side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Malen told Villa’s official website about Spurs: “They’re a good team that’s started well. They look very good, so we have to be ready to be better than them.

“It’s away as well, so it’s going to be difficult. We have to be up for it. We had a difficult start, but I think we’ve turned it around quite well. We stayed focused on the right things, and to have four wins in a row is a good sign.”

Spurs have a big point to prove at home

Tottenham’s performances at home have not been up to scratch this season. In fact, the club’s three worst performances this season (against Wolves, Bournemouth and Villarreal) have come at home.

Villa offer a tougher challenge than those three sides, and Spurs need to win if they are to have big ambitions this season.

Tottenham Hotspur host an in-form Aston Villa side in Sunday’s early kick-off as the two-week international break comes to an end.

We are used to being interrupted by international breaks, but this one in particular felt unusually long and never-ending. Spurs at least went into it on a high after finally breaking their ‘pre-international break curse’, winning a game before an international break for the first time since October 2023.

That 2-1 win over Leeds United saw Mohamed Kudus open his Tottenham account and Mathys Tel grab his first goal of the season to help Thomas Frank’s side return to winning ways after back-to-back draws with Wolves and Brighton, where they had to chase the game late on.

Despite those dropped points, Tottenham sit third in the Premier League table, just two points behind leaders Arsenal heading into the weekend.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, had a dreadful start to their campaign, winless in the league until the end of September and goalless until mid-month.

However, once they tasted victory, they have not lost or even tied since. Emery’s side are currently on a run of four straight wins across all competitions, including back-to-back victories in both the Europa League and Premier League, most recently beating newly promoted Burnley 2-1 before the international break.

What time does Tottenham vs Aston Villa kick off?

Location: London, England

Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Date: Sunday, 19th September 2025

Kick off Time: 2 pm BST

Referee: Simon Hooper

VAR: Paul Tierney

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Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa: Head-to-head record

Aston Villa have had the upper hand in recent meetings, winning four of their last six Premier League games against Tottenham. The two sides met three times last season, with Villa coming out on top in two of those encounters.

Interestingly, Thomas Frank has never beaten Unai Emery in the Premier League. He has faced Emery five times, drawing twice and losing three, all while managing Brentford. It is also the most Frank has faced a single manager in the competition without winning.

Tottenham team news

Tottenham’s injury situation had been relatively kind this season, but the international break brought a few setbacks. Yves Bissouma, who had just returned to the pitch for the first time this season, suffered an ankle injury only six minutes into his comeback and had to be stretchered off during Mali’s 4-1 win over Madagascar. He is ruled out for this fixture.

Ben Davies is another concern after picking up a muscle injury in Wales’ 4-2 defeat to Belgium. Even if fit, the Welsh International captain is unlikely to play this weekend.

On the positive side, Randal Kolo Muani and Kota Takai have returned to full training and are available for selection. However, Tottenham will still be without James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin, who all remain absent for a significant period.

Aston Villa team news

Unai Emery has his own injury concerns following the international break. Ollie Watkins was forced off in England’s friendly against Wales after colliding with the goalpost, ruling him out of their next game and making him a doubt for this one. Jadon Sancho, who joined Villa in the summer, has not featured this month and is also a doubt.

Tyrone Mings and Youri Tielemans are the confirmed absentees.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bergvall, Simons, Palhinha; Odobert, Tel, Kudus

This lineup takes into account the international break, with Destiny Udogie likely to be rested after not featuring for Italy.

Simons grabbed an assist for the Netherlands, while Lucas Bergvall made his senior debut for Sweden. Rodrigo Bentancur was not called up by Uruguay, so he will likely come off the bench in this fixture

Up front, Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert were both excellent for the French Under 21s, Odobert scoring four goals in two matches and Tel adding two himself. Frank will likely keep that duo together, with Kolo Muani and Richarlison options from the bench.

Our prediction

Tottenham’s form after international breaks is usually encouraging. In fact, they rank fourth in the league for most wins following one. Unfortunately for Tottenham fans, Villa sit just above them in that same stat, albeit by just one more win.

Spurs’ right-hand side could be the key on Sunday. Mohammed Kudus and Pedro Porro were both electric for their national teams and will look to continue that momentum. For Villa, Morgan Rogers and Lucas Digne pose the biggest threats, both enjoying decent international spells.

None of the last 20 Premier League meetings between Tottenham and Aston Villa have ended in a draw, and that trend may continue.

Given that Tottenham players had more involvement during the international duty, we expect Thomas Frank to get the better of Unai Emery for the first time in his career.

Eric Dier was set to take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League next week, but a recent twist may change that.

Tottenham Hotspur will return to Champions League action this Wednesday with an important match against Monaco.

Spurs are one spot off the top eight of the league phase, having been held to a 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt on matchday two of the competition.

There has been much discussion about the game due to the possible return of Paul Pogba, who has not played since the beginning of his doping ban more than two years ago. However, he will no longer be available until after Monaco’s clash against Tottenham.

Eric Dier is also a talking point ahead of the match as the Monaco defender spent almost a decade at Spurs before leaving the club last year.

Eric Dier is no longer fit to face Tottenham

Dier was the hero in Monaco’s most recent Champions League fixture after he won and converted a stoppage-time penalty to claim a draw against Manchester City. However, he too will not be available for selection against Spurs.

According to L’Equipe, Dier suffered a muscle injury during training and will be unavailable to take on Angers in Monaco’s upcoming Ligue 1 clash.

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The 31-year-old will be sidelined for between two to four weeks, which means he will not feature against Tottenham either.

Spurs will look to take revenge on Monaco

Tottenham got the better of Monaco in their 2015/16 Europa League campaign. However, the French outfit did the double over Spurs the following season, spoiling what was a long-awaited return to Champions League football.

If Thomas Frank’s team are able to take all three points on Wednesday, it will certainly please the supporters who remember that disastrous European campaign. More importantly, it could see Tottenham move into the automatic qualification positions for the round of 16.

The Lewis Family are reportedly set to change one important policy at Tottenham, which could have a big impact on the kind of signings that the Lilywhites target.

Since the exit of Daniel Levy, the Lewis family have repeatedly reiterated that they want to usher in a new era of on-pitch success.

We saw some evidence of that last week, with Spurs confirming that their majority owners had injected £100m into the club.

We have already heard several sources say over the last couple of months that ENIC are set to change Tottenham’s transfer policy and target elite signings over the upcoming transfer windows.

Tottenham owners set to change important Daniel Levy policy

Tottenham were among the biggest spenders in the transfer market even under Levy, but many fans felt that one aspect held the Lilywhites back.

Spurs had a modest wage bill compared to the rivals, which meant that they were almost never competing for players who commanded a massive salary.

The Telegraph have now revealed that, according to sources close to the Lewis family, the policy is about to change.

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Tottenham Hotspur’s majority owners have allegedly given indications that they are ready to do away with the strict wage bill, as they feel that it has held the club back from competing against the best sides in the division.

Why the changes to Spurs’ wage policy might not matter

Tottenham supporters will be pleased to hear that the club are considering removing the strict wage limit so that they can compete for elite players.

However, this is a curious time for Spurs to be making this decision, given that clubs across the Premier League are being forced to reduce their wage bill amidst the new PSR restrictions.

The Major League Soccer season will end at the start of December, and a new report has now explored whether a short-term return to Tottenham would be on the cards for Heung-min Son at the end of the year.

As expected, Heung-min Son has been dominating the MLS since his move to Los Angeles FC in the summer.

The South Korean has managed eight goals and three assists in nine league outings so far, and his impressive form may have got Spurs fans to wonder if he could still be valuable to the Lilywhites, who have had issues in the left-wing role this season.

A new report has now explored if the Tottenham legend could return to his former stomping ground for a brief loan at the end of the MLS season.

Return to Tottenham is impossible for Heung-min Son

The MLS Cup Final is set for Dec 6, 2025, and the next season does not start until late February 2026, but Football Asian say that it would not be possible for Son to return to Spurs on a short-term loan.

This is because the forward will kick off his 2026 preseason in mid-January, joining the Coachella Valley Invitational, which is the biggest preseason event in North American football history.

The former Tottenham Hotspur man is set to report to LAFC’s Performance Centre in early or mid-January before joining his teammates in Indio for a week of competitive preseason fixtures and training.

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As a result, the outlet concludes that speculation over a short-term return to N17 for the player is wide off the mark, with a loan move being ‘logistically impossible and competitively impractical’.

The publication confirms that the 33-year-old will remain in Los Angeles through the winter.

Son wants to make a trip to North London

While there may be no chance of seeing the Korean don the Lilywhite shirt again, he has expressed a desire to return to North London for an important reason.

Son has admitted that he wants to return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a proper goodbye to the Spurs supporters, having not got a chance to do that in the summer.

Dominic Solanke is in high spirits as he aims to get back out onto the pitch to help his Tottenham teammates.

Tottenham spent a club record £65m to land Solanke from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024, and the centre-forward had a decent first season in North London, hitting 16 goals across all competitions.

After an injury-hit campaign last time out, he would have been hoping to hit new heights this term, but the season has not begun the way he would have hoped for.

Solanke had to have a minor ankle surgery due to a recurring problem, which has restricted him to just two substitute appearances so far under Thomas Frank.

Tottenham fans will love Dominic Solanke’s latest message

Frank has said that Solanke is progressing well after his surgery, but Spurs have not given a clear timeline for when he will be back fit.

The former Bournemouth man has taken to Instagram to make it clear that he is having a positive mindset despite being in a testing situation.

He shared a series of images, including one with James Maddison and another in the Hotspur Way gym, along with the caption: “Positivity through the dark times.”

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Solanke could explode under Thomas Frank

We know that the new Tottenham boss is a big fan of the England international striker.

In fact, in his first interview as Spurs head coach, Frank named Solanke as one of the players he is looking forward to working with the most, backing the centre-forward to score a lot of goals this season.

Paul Merson has tipped Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa to be involved in a tightly contested encounter this weekend.

Thomas Frank’s side are back in action at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the just-concluded international break.

Several of Frank’s men impressed while away with their respective countries, and the Dane will be hoping for more of the same as his side return to league duty against Aston Villa.

Villa, meanwhile, will be no pushover, as Unai Emery’s men aim to secure a statement win over third-placed Spurs to continue their recent good form, having won their last two Premier League fixtures.

Paul Merson delivers Tottenham vs Aston Villa prediction

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has shared his thoughts ahead of Tottenham’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, suggesting that both sides could cancel each other out.

Speaking to Sportskeeda, Merson said that Villa are beginning to rediscover their rhythm after a shaky start to the season, although defensive issues remain a concern for Unai Emery.

“Aston Villa are finally starting to find some form after that nightmare start. The draw against 10-man Sunderland must have stung them quite bad, but since then there has been a solid uptick in form. The only concern for Villa would be the lack of clean sheets, they are still conceding goals.

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“Tottenham are doing really well under Thomas Frank. We all know they won’t win the league, but I also feel they are going a bit under the radar at the moment.

“What stood out for me is how they produced a comeback against Brighton. You don’t see the Spurs teams of the past doing that to be honest.

“I also like the fact that Frank is very open to the idea of changing his players and his style depending on his opponents. Spurs’ defence has also improved and it’s not like they have to score five or six goals to win a game.

“Tottenham will be fighting for fifth or sixth place this term and that’s not bad considering their performance last season!

“Having said that, I believe Villa can get something out of this game. If Unai Emery’s team play to their full potential, I don’t think there will be much to separate these two sides.”

Score prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Aston Villa

Tottenham’s recent form could back Merson’s prediction

Of course, Merson’s prediction is not far-fetched, as Tottenham are no strangers to picking up draws under Thomas Frank.

Frank’s men have drawn two league fixtures already this season, one coming away from home against Brighton and another at home with Wolves.

However, after ending their run of consecutive draws in the league with a victory over Leeds United, Frank will be keen to see his side make it back-to-back wins when Villa visit North London.

Tottenham could soon welcome back two key players ahead of their clash with Aston Villa, as Thomas Frank offers a further update on Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani’s recovery progress.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in action this weekend, with Aston Villa set to visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the recently concluded international break.

Frank is not without his share of setbacks after the break, with Ben Davies and Yves Bissouma both picking up injuries, and the latter is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

However, the Tottenham boss did offer some positive news on the fitness front, as both Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani edge closer to full recovery and potential returns to the squad.

Thomas Frank provides latest on Dominic Solanke fitness at Tottenham

Tottenham are set to have a busy few weeks before the next international break, with seven games expected in the next 22 days.

When asked whether Dominic Solanke could feature during these 22 days before the next break, Thomas Frank provided a detailed update on the striker’s current situation and training status while speaking to football.london.

He said: “I think the good thing is it is positive that he is progressing now, but he is still training on his own, so I do not want to be too excited or too negative either way. So, I am actually taking it day-by-day and week-by-week to see how quickly he progresses.

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“Dom is a natural fit player. There are some players that naturally get that fitness up to a high level, but of course, we also need to take into consideration that he basically has not trained with the team since July.

“That is not to say it will take three months to get up to pace. It is just that it will take a little bit of time to get up to pace. How long? I do not know.”

Frank on Randal Kolo Muani’s readiness for Tottenham

Thomas Frank was also asked about Randal Kolo Muani’s availability and how eager he is to get the forward back into action.

Muani has taken positive steps to return to full fitness, having featured for 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors match with Championship side Watford.

Frand acknowledged the Frenchman’s steady improvement and hinted that he could soon feature for Spurs.

“I think it is very important to have him fit and available. I think he looks better and better. I think it is also fair to say that he has trained two weeks with the team, and when he came on the 1st of September? Oh my God, that is six, seven weeks ago.

“Time flies! But he still needed a bit to go up to the higher level, but it is not to say that he cannot be involved tomorrow and maybe can play minutes. I think it is fair to say he needs a little bit of time to get up to fully firing.”

Tottenham are gearing up for a tough Premier League test against Aston Villa this weekend, and Chris Sutton’s latest prediction will no doubt please Spurs fans hoping for a statement win under Thomas Frank.

Tottenham Hotspur have failed to beat Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in their last two outings, with Villa securing a 2-0 victory back in May in the Premier League and a 2-1 win in the FA Cup.

Frank will be hoping to turn the tide on Sunday when the two sides clash in the league for the first time this term.

It is third versus 13th, and while Villa might currently find themselves so far down the Premier League table, their recent form shows that momentum is beginning to return, with two consecutive league wins helping them rebuild confidence.

Chris Sutton backs Tottenham to edge past Aston Villa

Ahead of the clash, football pundit Chris Sutton has shared his thoughts on how he expects the game to play out, predicting a narrow Tottenham victory in what would be a tightly contested fixture.

Sutton explained that despite Aston Villa’s strong run of form, he remains unconvinced by their overall performances, suggesting that this encounter will serve as a proper test of how far Unai Emery’s side have truly come.

Speaking via BBC Sport, he said: “After a slow start to the season, Aston Villa are on a good run of results with four straight wins now. I am still not convinced by their performances, though, and this will be a good test of where Unai Emery’s side are really at and whether they have actually turned a corner or not.

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“I do not watch Tottenham and feel like they will score a barrel-load of goals, but they have got a good balance to their team and I am backing them to find a way to win this.”

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1.

Thomas Frank is looking to set the tone for a busy Spurs run

Thomas Frank will be hoping his side can start a demanding run of seven matches in 22 days with a win, and this fixture could provide the perfect opportunity to do so.

Spurs will have the advantage of playing at home against Villa, which naturally offers them an edge, but their recent record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been far from convincing.

Tottenham’s Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel impressed while on international duty with France U21s this week, and Thomas Frank was watching.

Several Tottenham Hotspur players stood out during the international break, with seven goals shared among those who travelled from north London.

A significant portion of those strikes came from two of Tottenham’s brightest young talents, Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel.

The French Under-21 pair were in fine form, scoring a combined total of six goals for their country, with Odobert netting four and Tel adding two.

Thomas praises Tottenham duo Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel

The pair have now returned to Hotspur Way and will be eager to build on that momentum as they rejoin the Tottenham squad ahead of the next round of fixtures.

Odobert is still waiting for his first goal of the season in a Spurs shirt, while Tel opened his account before the international break in the win against Leeds United.

Speaking on their form, Thomas Frank shared his delight at the performances of both players during their time away, praising their development and growing confidence in front of goal.

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Thomas told Football London, “Yeah, I agree. I think it was so nice to see both of them perform well for their country, and I watched all their assists and goals and actions from their games. And it’s nice.

“I think sometimes you are in momentum and you’re in a good rhythm, and clearly both of them are in a good rhythm, scoring goals, performing well, having good actions. So I think that’s key.

“I’m pleased with both players in general. I think they are developing and taking steps in the right direction. So I think it’s positive.”

Odobert and Tel must now step up for Spurs

While Odobert and Tel have shown their potential at the youth international level, the challenge now lies in translating that form into consistent performances for Tottenham.

Everyone recognises the talent that both players possess, but the real question is not about ability; it is about sustaining that level week in, week out.