RismadarVoice Reporters
September 19, 2026
Aston Villa handed Tottenham Hotspur another setback on Saturday, beating them 3-2 in north London to leave Roberto De Zerbi’s side still searching for their first Premier League victory of the season.
Tottenham’s long wait for a league goal finally ended late in the match, but their revival came after Villa had established a commanding three-goal advantage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Villa, who had also struggled in front of goal during the opening weeks of the campaign, secured their first league win of the season through goals from new signings Johan Manzambi and Nicolas Jackson, before Emiliano Buendia added a spectacular third.
Tottenham pulled two goals back in the closing stages, but their late surge was not enough to rescue a point.
The hosts’ first goal came when Conor Gallagher’s effort took a deflection off Matty Cash and found the net.
Jan Paul van Hecke then headed Tottenham’s second from Andy Robertson’s free-kick deep into stoppage time.
The defeat leaves Tottenham without a league win this season and rooted in the relegation zone, piling further pressure on De Zerbi after the club spent more than £300 million on new players during the transfer window.
Spurs had started the match positively and came close to taking the lead.
Savio was denied twice in quick succession by goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who then produced another important save to keep out Archie Grey’s powerful effort.
Villa, however, gradually gained control.
Manzambi, who had missed much of the opening weeks of the campaign through injury, opened his Villa account by converting Boubacar Kamara’s cross.
Tottenham were also left frustrated by the Premier League’s revised injury-treatment rule, which requires players who receive treatment on the pitch to remain off for at least a minute before returning.
The rule became particularly significant after a head injury to Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven temporarily left Spurs short at the back.
Villa capitalised when Manzambi finished a move to double the visitors’ advantage.
Tottenham then gifted Villa their second goal of the afternoon after Van Hecke failed to properly deal with a long ball played through the centre.
Jackson escaped the defender before driving his effort into the ground and beyond goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
Villa completed the scoring with 11 minutes remaining when Buendia unleashed a superb long-range effort into the top corner.
The goal was met by loud boos from the home supporters, many of whom began leaving the stadium before the final whistle.
Those who stayed were rewarded with a late Tottenham fightback.
Mohammed Kudus worked hard to create an opening for Gallagher, whose shot went in after striking Cash’s outstretched foot.
Van Hecke then gave Tottenham hope by powering a header into the net from Robertson’s free-kick with virtually the final touch of the game.
But Villa held on to claim their first league victory of the season.
The result gives Unai Emery’s side an early boost after they collected just one point from their opening four league matches.
Villa endured a similarly poor start last season, failing to win their first five league games, but recovered to finish fourth.
Tottenham, meanwhile, face a lengthy wait before their next league fixture, with the international break giving De Zerbi time to address his team’s difficult start to the campaign.
