(Credit: Imago)

Richie Mills

Sat 2 May 2026 20:10, UK

Aston Villa duo Morgan Rogers and Unai Emery have some fond memories of facing Tottenham over the years.

With four games to go, Villa sit fifth in the Premier League and are in pole position to secure Champions League football next season.

Emery’s team are seven points ahead of Brentford, who have played a game more, and if Villa beat Tottenham on Sunday and Bournemouth fail to beat Crystal Palace, their Champions League dream will be realised again.

Villa host relegation-threatened Tottenham at Villa Park, hoping to make it three wins from three against Spurs this season.

As Villa prepare to entertain lowly Tottenham, the home faithful will hope Emery and Rogers can continue their strong record against the north London team.

Omens are good for Aston Villa vs Tottenham

According to Aston Villa Statto, Villa have won more games against Tottenham under Emery than they have against any other team.

The Spaniard has tasted victory seven times against Spurs, six times against Fulham and Brighton, on five occasions against West Ham, and Nottingham Forest have been ousted four times.

Indeed, Tottenham have lost six of their last 10 league games against Villa, but have won four along the way.

Moreover, Ollie Watkins has scored in three Premier League games against sides managed by former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.

The 30-year-old also bagged a hat-trick against the Italian in September 2023 and will hope to heap more misery on the Tottenham head coach on Sunday.

Indeed, his teammate Rogers has notched four goals and added two assists in five meetings with Tottenham to date.

If the England international can repeat those heroics against Spurs, Champions League football should be within touching distance.

Aston Villa strategy comes to light

Both Villa and Tottenham will be without some key players on Sunday, although Spurs’ injury list is far worse.

While that means there could be some unpredictability with the lineups, Villa’s plan of attack has become clear over the season.

BBC Sport states that 36.9 per cent of Villa’s chances in the Premier League this season have come from the middle third of the pitch – the fourth highest in the division.

Conversely, 33.9 per cent of chances created against Tottenham this season have come through the middle; the fifth-highest rate.

De Zerbi will need to be mindful of this…