Credit: Imago

Jacob Raw

Mon 4 May 2026 7:10, UK

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery raised eyebrows with the lineup he chose in the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham.

Villa Park had to watch their side lose an 11th Premier League game of the campaign, as they failed to leapfrog Liverpool to go into 4th, with both on 58 points.

Tottenham did the damage in the first half with goals from Conor Gallagher and Richarlison, leaving Villa Park stunned.

A late goal from Emi Buendia wasn’t enough, but shockingly, it was the Villans’ only shot on target in the entire contest.

Regardless of how embarrassing the defeat was, Emery was right to make changes.

Unai Emery doesn’t deserve criticism for loss

Villa had multiple poor performances against Tottenham, and everyone could have seen it coming when the lineup was announced, but what is Emery supposed to do?

In the grand scheme of things, Villa look like they have already secured Champions League football, and are still six points ahead of Bournemouth, who sit behind them in sixth place.

Villa created just 0.31 xG in the whole match, and Tottenham had the majority of the ball with 54 per cent.

The visitors also had a slight edge in the overall duels won with 51 per cent, but it felt like Roberto De Zerbi’s side won virtually everything, on the ground and in the air.

Villa never looked up for it from minute one, and given Emery’s reactions from the touchline, the Spaniard never set his side up to simply roll over for Spurs.

It was the players he brought in that let him down, but Emery needed to do so, with something much more important on the horizon.

A European trophy is more important than one Premier League loss, regardless of how embarrassing it feels.

The only issue now is that this frustration could boil over to the game against Nottingham Forest, but let’s hope supporters come into it feeling rejuvenated.

What advantages do Aston Villa have over Nott’m Forest?

Villa’s crucial Europa League semi-final comes next Thursday, and they have a slight advantage over Nottingham Forest in the second leg, who play against Chelsea on Monday.

Come the game against the Reds, Villa will have played eight times since the international break, and time for resting is short, hence the need to rotate.

Forest are unbeaten in nine and have won their last four games, but Villa still have advantages over Vitor Pereira’s side.

Villa have 53.5 per cent possession on average in the Premier League, a 6.4 per cent increase on Forest, as well as converting six more goals with that possession.

The main difference between the sides is the number of touches in the opponent’s box that Villa have over Forest. The contrast is 106 touches in favour of the Villans, but on the night, it could be one touch that decides things.

If Villa turn the tie around and go through to the final, people may look back on the lineup against Tottenham as crucial for the players who were rested, or those who got a bad display out of their system.