Key events
Villa’s Emery now speaks to TNT Sports.
“When we are playing [multiple] matches in a few days … sometimes players are not 100% … McGinn was confident yesterday, but he was not feeling 100%, and we decided not to take a risk, so he is not going to be involved today.”
Is this a chance to set the tone for a big week?
“We are in a key moment. We are playing very, very exciting matches … in the Premier League, because we are fighting for the top five … And we are playing semi-finals [in Europe]. In the beginning of the season we were dreaming it …”
Poland’s Matty Cash had a chat a while back.
“You want to try and get as many points as you can,” he revealed.
“It’ll be a good battle, a good test, and hopefully we can win.”
This is astonishing stuff so far!
“Every game is important, if we get three today, we’re closer to Champions League … on Thursday we have an opportunity to put ourselves in a final. It’s exciting times.”
Any concerns about the last two results? (Defeats by Fulham and Forest.)
“We started the season really poorly, everyone was questioning us, then we showed what we are capable of,” he roars.
“Villa park is an amazing place to play, in front of our fans, the atmosphere is good, so hopefully today it’ll be like that.”
West Ham, Villa’s main relegation rivals, have three matches remaining: Arsenal (H), Newcastle (A) and Leeds (H). Tricky, very tricky.
Spurs, after tonight, have Leeds (H), Chelsea (A), and Everton (H).
Forest’s run-in looks like this: Chelsea (A), Newcastle (H), Manchester United (A), Bournemouth (H).
There has not been a draw in 21 previous league meetings between these sides, stretching back 14 years: the second-longest such run in Premier League history, points out the presenter Lynsey Hipgrave.
“Tottenham have got to be strong and bold,” says Glenn Hoddle on pundit duty for TNT Sports, adding that he is surprised at all the Villa changes having lost their last two games.
Team news
Seven changes for Villa: Tyrone Mings, Victor Lindelof, Ian Maatsen, Ross Barkley, Lamare Bogarde, Tammy Abraham, Jadon Sancho all come in, with Emery managing resources before the Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest on Thursday. John McGinn is not in the squad.
Four changes for Spurs: Destiny Udogie, João Palinha, Richarlison, Mathys Tel are introduced by De Zerbi, Palinha having scored the winner against Wolves last time out.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Lindelof, Mings, Maatsen, Bogarde, Tielemans, Sancho, Barkley, Rogers, Abraham. Substitutes: Bizot, Buendia, Watkins, Digne, Torres, Garcia, Douglas Luiz, Bailey, Konsa.
Tottenham Hotspur: Kinsky, Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Joao Palhinha, Muani, Gallagher, Tel, Richarlison. Substitutes: Austin, Dragusin, Bissouma, Maddison, Gray, Bergvall,Spence, Sarr, Souza.
Referee: Sam Barrott (West Yorkshire)
Preamble
Relegation, for a club of Tottenham’s stature, is unthinkable. At least it should be given their resources, history and stature. But a deeply horrible season sees them teetering in 18th place, the third and final relegation spot, with four matches remaining.
It’s not all bad news: since taking over from the sacked Igor Tudor – who took over from the sacked Thomas Frank – Roberto de Zerbi has managed to generate four points from the past two matches, having opened his tenure with a 1-0 loss away against Sunderland.
Even better, perhaps, is that West Ham crumbled to a 3-0 loss away at Brentford yesterday, meaning Spurs can overtake the Hammers and climb out of the relegation zone with victory at Aston Villa this evening.
Easier said than done against Unai Emery’s fifth-placed Villans, who are well on course for Champions League qualification, but De Zerbi has undoubtedly made a positive impact. Spurs fans will be praying for another uptick.
Kick-off: 7pm BST
