Tottenham vs Aston Villa: Player Ratings After Disappointing Loss
Tottenham started like a side desperate to make a statement. They finished like one searching for answers.
Spurs flew out of the blocks, carved out chances, and then watched Aston Villa walk away with the points thanks to a clinical, streetwise display that grew stronger as the afternoon wore on.
Here’s how every player rated in a game that slipped away from Ange Postecoglou’s side and underlined Unai Emery’s growing authority.
Tottenham Hotspur
- Antonin Kinsky – 6
Kept Spurs in it early with a routine stop from Nicolas Jackson and a sharper one to deny Emi Buendia. Little chance with any of the goals; those in front of him left him exposed once Villa found their edge. - Pedro Porro – 6
Back in the side and immediately on the front foot, driving Spurs on down the right. Then it all ended after 18 minutes as he limped off. A bright return cut brutally short. - Jan Paul van Hecke – 6
Handled Jackson well for long stretches and looked in control when Villa did venture forward. Then came the key moment: beaten in the air by Johan Manzambi for the opener. Redeemed himself slightly with a late consolation, but the damage was done. - Micky van de Ven – 5
His afternoon summed up Tottenham’s. Took a blow to the face just before half-time, left the pitch for treatment, and Villa scored while he was off. Never really regained his authority. - Andrew Robertson – 5
The mistake that changed everything. Tried to keep the ball in play, misjudged it, and Villa pounced, the move eventually leading to Manzambi’s goal. Thought he had made amends in the second half, only for the offside flag in the build-up to Mohammed Kudus’ disallowed strike to cut short any redemption arc. - Sandro Tonali – 5
One first-half effort fizzed just wide, but that was as close as he came to influencing the game. For a £100m midfielder, this was another flat outing, short on control and cutting edge. - Rodrigo Bentancur – 5
Relished the scrap in a busy midfield early on and tried to set the tempo. As Villa grew into the contest, his impact faded and Spurs lost their grip in the centre of the pitch. - Savio – 5
Should have put Spurs ahead. Saw an early chance go begging and then met a volley superbly, only for Zion Suzuki to beat it away. For 25 minutes he looked electric. After that, he disappeared as Villa tightened up. - Mateus Fernandes – 6
Neat and tidy in possession, but Spurs needed more incision. Hooked at half-time as Postecoglou chased the game, more a victim of the situation than his own performance. - Omar Marmoush – 5
Brought in from Manchester City to provide goals. Never looked like doing so once the game turned. Started with intent but drifted badly as Villa seized control. - Dominic Solanke – 5
The drought goes on. No Premier League goal since March and never truly looked like ending that run here. Worked the channels but lacked a decisive touch in the box.
Substitutes
- Archie Gray (on 18, Porro) – 6
Almost a dream impact with his first touch, denied by Suzuki in a one-on-one. That early burst was as lively as it got; his influence waned as Spurs ran out of ideas. - Mohammed Kudus (on 46, Fernandes) – 5
Sent on to ignite the attack and thought he’d done just that with a smart finish, only to see it ruled out for offside in the build-up. Beyond that moment, he never really caught fire. - James Maddison (on 66, Solanke) – 5
Introduced to unlock a stubborn Villa defence. Couldn’t find the spaces he thrives in and struggled to impose himself on a game already drifting away. - Lucas Bergvall (on 84, Bentancur) – N/A
Too late to leave a meaningful mark. - Conor Gallagher (on 84, Tonali) – N/A
Did at least offer a late surge and grabbed a consolation, his second goal in as many games, but it arrived long after the contest was decided.
Unused: Dubravka, Tosin, Senesi, Udogie.
Aston Villa
- Zion Suzuki – 8
Villa’s platform. Kept his side level with sharp first-half saves from Savio and Archie Gray, both at crucial moments when Spurs were rampant. Not at his usual level with the ball at his feet, but his shot-stopping was outstanding. - Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 5
Still searching for rhythm under Emery. One slip almost gifted Spurs a goal and his uncertainty in possession was clear. Withdrawn at half-time as Villa looked for more assurance on that flank. - Tyrone Mings – 6
Ragged at times in the first half, repeatedly caught out as Villa tried to play from the back. Settled after the break, cut out the errors and helped see the game out with far more composure. - Victor Lindelof – 7
Alert when Spurs were on top early, reading the danger and clearing his lines. Once Villa took control, he enjoyed a far quieter second half and looked entirely comfortable. - Matteo Ruggeri – 6
A full Premier League debut that never quite convinced. Still learning Emery’s demands and it showed in his positioning, but he stuck to the task and grew slightly more assured as the game slowed. - Joao Gomes – 7
Back in the league after his opening-weekend red card and looked determined to make it count. Snapped into tackles, shielded the back line and gave Villa a solid base to protect their lead. - Boubacar Kamara – 7
At the heart of Villa’s control. His shot led to the loose ball that Manzambi buried for the opener, and he kept the visitors ticking, always available, always moving the ball with purpose. - John McGinn – 7
Relentless. Hunted down Robertson’s error to help spark the move for Manzambi’s goal and never stopped driving Villa forward. A typically dynamic, combative display. - Emi Buendia – 7
Loves this ground and showed it again. Curled a stunning effort into the top corner from 25 yards to kill the game. Had already tested Kinsky earlier and remained a constant menace between the lines. - Johan Manzambi – 8
What a full debut. Started slowly as Spurs swarmed all over Villa, then exploded into life. Reacted quickest to Kamara’s shot to open the scoring, then turned provider with an assist. Once he settled, he looked every inch a Premier League threat. - Nicolas Jackson – 7
Isolated for long spells before the interval but never stopped working. Forced Kinsky into a smart save early on and got his reward after the break with a well-taken goal. A nuisance throughout once the game opened up.
Substitutes
- Matty Cash (on 46, Wan-Bissaka) – 7
Back from injury and instantly stiffened Villa’s right side. More aggressive, more assured, and helped shut down Spurs’ early joy in wide areas. - George Hemmings (on 72, Manzambi) – 6
Slotted in smoothly and helped Villa close the game out without fuss. - Ibrahim Mbaye (on 84, Kamara) – N/A
Came on to help see out the final minutes. - Ross Barkley (on 84, McGinn) – N/A
Late cameo against his former club, with the job already done.
Unused: Wright, Bogarde, Abraham, Garnacho, Harwood-Bellis.
Villa walked off with the points and the poise. Spurs walked off knowing that if they keep wasting fast starts like this, the season’s ambitions will start to feel a lot further away than the league table suggests.
