Whereas boss Thomas Frank is below rising scrutiny, his reverse quantity on Saturday continues to get pleasure from adulation from supporters and plaudits from the media.
Unai Emery has defied stringent spending restrictions and Aston Villa’s longest winless league begin in 56 years to information the staff to 3rd place, with a 10-point cushion over fifth.
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Though Villa have been reborn since Emery’s arrival in late 2022, their solely main silverware since changing into European champions in 1982 is a few League Cups within the mid-Nineties. Final season, they beat Spurs to make it previous the FA Cup fourth spherical for the primary time since reaching the 2015 remaining. Tottenham, and particularly Frank, can ailing afford to let Villa make mugs of them on Saturday.
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That is their fifth consecutive away fixture in London – a loss and draw have adopted two wins.
Since successful the FA Cup for a seventh time in 1957, Villa have solely reached the ultimate twice: 2000 and 2015.
Villa have received seven of their 11 penalty shootouts in all competitions however most lately misplaced 4-2 to Brentford in September within the EFL Cup, with spot-kicks by John McGinn and Matty Money each saved. The Villans beat Bolton 4-1 on penalties within the 2000 FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
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Key Spurs gamers – Richarlison and Micky Van de Ven
Tottenham’s high goalscorer this season with eight, Richarlison has not scored in any of his 9 appearances in opposition to Aston Villa. Frank commented on his effectiveness off the ball in contrast with Randal Kolo Muani, who has been moved large recently. Richarlison is outperforming his xG this season by 2.68.
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In the meantime, Van de Ven has been the standout performer this season after a change in health fortunes. He has performed most minutes of any Spurs participant, whereas solely Richarlison has extra objectives than him this season. The defender registered the very best high pace of any participant in Premier League historical past in 2024 and is now a Netherlands common with 17 caps.
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Tottenham winger Mohammed Kudus has been dominated out till April with the thigh damage he sustained final weekend. Rodrigo Bentancur is dealing with a spell on the sidelines after struggling a hamstring damage throughout Wednesday’s defeat by whereas Lucas Bergvall was additionally injured and shall be assessed. Future Udogie and Dominic Solanke are again in coaching however not anticipated to function.
For Villa, goalkeeper Emi Martinez is a doubt due to the calf damage that compelled him off at halftime in midweek. Pau Torres returned to the matchday squad in opposition to and fellow centre-back Tyrone Mings could possibly be match.