In north London, Tottenham’s costly summer rebuild has yet to find its first league win. Aston Villa left with a 3-2 victory on Saturday, deepening the unease around Roberto De Zerbi’s side after a transfer window in which the club spent $400 million.
The defeat means Spurs have taken only two points from their opening five Premier League matches, drawing twice and losing three times. Their difficult week had already included elimination from the English League Cup, and the international break now arrives with the team sitting 18th, awaiting the results involving Fulham and Coventry City.
Villa’s afternoon was shaped by two recent arrivals and a young midfielder enjoying a significant first start. Johan Manzambi, the 20-year-old Swiss attacking midfielder who impressed at the 2026 World Cup, put the visitors ahead in first-half stoppage time. He then helped create the goal for Nicolas Jackson, another new addition to the Villa squad.
Emi Buendía appeared to have settled the contest when the Argentine struck from distance in the 79th minute, putting Villa three goals ahead and setting them on the way to their first league success of the campaign. Late efforts from Conor Gallagher and Jan Paul van Hecke narrowed the margin, giving Tottenham their first Premier League goals of the season, but they could not change the outcome.
There was another concern for De Zerbi before the interval, when Spanish right-back Pedro Porro was forced off through injury. The Italian coach has been given substantial backing after Tottenham finished 17th in each of the previous two 20-team Premier League seasons, but the early returns have increased the pressure around the club.
Villa moved to 15th with four points, while Tottenham remain just above the bottom places on two. Elsewhere on Saturday, reigning champions Arsenal were due to travel to Brighton.
