15 hours ago
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While Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is under increasing scrutiny, his opposite number on Saturday continues to enjoy adulation from supporters and plaudits from the media.
Unai Emery has defied stringent spending restrictions and Aston Villa's longest winless league start in 56 years to guide the team to third place, with a 10-point cushion over fifth.
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Although Villa have been reborn since Emery's arrival in late 2022, their only major silverware since becoming European champions in 1982 is a couple of League Cups in the mid-1990s. Last season, they beat Spurs to make it past the FA Cup fourth round for the first time since reaching the 2015 final. Tottenham, and especially Frank, can ill afford to let Villa make mugs of them on Saturday.
Did you know?
This is their fifth consecutive away fixture in London – a loss and draw have followed two wins.
Since winning the FA Cup for a seventh time in 1957, Villa have only reached the final twice: 2000 and 2015.
Villa have won seven of their 11 penalty shootouts in all competitions but most recently lost 4-2 to Brentford in September in the EFL Cup, with spot-kicks by John McGinn and Matty Cash both saved. The Villans beat Bolton 4-1 on penalties in the 2000 FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
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Key Spurs players - Richarlison and Micky Van de Ven
Tottenham's top goalscorer this season with eight, Richarlison has not scored in any of his nine appearances against Aston Villa. Frank commented on his effectiveness off the ball compared with Randal Kolo Muani, who has been moved wide lately. Richarlison is outperforming his xG this season by 2.68.
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Meanwhile, Van de Ven has been the standout performer this season after a change in fitness fortunes. He has played most minutes of any Spurs player, while only Richarlison has more goals than him this season. The defender registered the highest top speed of any player in Premier League history in 2024 and is now a Netherlands regular with 17 caps.
Team news
Tottenham winger Mohammed Kudus has been ruled out until April with the thigh injury he sustained last weekend. Rodrigo Bentancur is facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury during Wednesday's defeat by Bournemouth, while Lucas Bergvall was also injured and will be assessed. Destiny Udogie and Dominic Solanke are back in training but not expected to feature.
For Villa, goalkeeper Emi Martinez is a doubt because of the calf injury that forced him off at halftime in midweek. Pau Torres returned to the matchday squad against Crystal Palace and fellow centre-back Tyrone Mings could be fit.
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