Tottenham Hotspur

Right, we're minutes from kick-off and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is filling.

A wonderful ground, go-kart track, concert venue, rugby and boxing facility.

Just not great at football right now.

Kevin Nolan
Former Newcastle midfielder on Premier League Kick-Off

This is the weekend when something needs to gel and click for Tottenham.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa's £50m summer signing Johan Manzambi (20 years and 340 days) is the youngest Swiss player to make their first Premier League start since Southampton's Alexandre Jankewitz (19 years and 39 days) in February 2021, who was sent off within two minutes against Manchester United.

The Joneses: Both clubs are coming at this from different angles. Villa lost half their team including the majority of their most influential players so have had to reinvest and try to gel players together, several of whom have been suffering from injuries. Spurs were able to just throw over £300m loose change at their problems. Spurs are favourites for me today as Emery needs more time for everyone to settle.

David James
Former Aston Villa goalkeeper on Premier League Kick-Off

Image source, Getty Images

If Aston Villa lose at Tottenham then they will look at that as a massive loss because no one loses at Tottenham - apart from Tottenham!

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

In his programme notes, Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi writes Spurs need to "discover our spark."

Starting the Premier League season with four goalless games, the first time in the club's 144-year history they have failed to score in their opening four matches of a season, most Tottenham fans would agree.

"There is no shortcut to building a new team," continued De Zerbi.

"It requires hard work and dedication on the training ground, which is what I am seeing. I believe in my group of players and have no doubt things will start to click soon."

John: Unai Emery has done an amazing job at Villa, built an incredible squad and always seems to over archive. The squad as is normal moves on for various reasons and Emery just keeps going.

Phil Jagielka
Former England defender on Premier League Kick-Off

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has got so much credit in the bank so he won't panic.

As strange as it might be, he probably cannot wait for the international break. It will give him a chance to get his squad together. Obviously a lot of players will go away but it's like a mini pre-season for Emery and those that stay behind.

I think you will see a better Aston Villa after the international break.

If they can get a win against Spurs after what has been a very poor start to the season...

As long as everyone comes back from the international break fit then I think Emery will be quietly confident he can turn it around.

Tottenham Hotspur

Image source, Getty Images

Pints before noon? Pace yourselves, lads.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

More than half a billion spent between them, for just three points and one goal. Tottenham and Aston Villa are in need of Premier League inspiration.

It is not a surprise that a summer of change at both clubs has failed to bring immediate results - but they need to ignite their season.

They meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the past two Europa League winners but sitting in the bottom four of the early Premier League table.

With 10 new players, and six key sales - including Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins - Unai Emery is shaping a new Villa team.

Tottenham also added 10 players for more than £300m but goodwill is in short supply after two years of relegation battles. Victory is paramount for both teams.

Read more: Winless Villa and Spurs face telling early showdown.

Aston Villa

Image source, Getty Images

Is Alejandro Garnacho the new Harvey Elliott?

Garnacho joined Aston Villa on loan from Chelsea in July.

The winger has made just three substitute appearances - and been an unused sub in the past three games.

Garnacho, who has played just 31 minutes so far this season, once again starts on the bench against Tottenham.

Elliott hardly played after joining Aston Villa on loan from Liverpool last season.

Wagenknecht: Tottenham poison chalice of a club. Whoever goes there instantly becomes average. Maybe if the expectations were top 12 rather than Europe they'd actually progress. I sense De Zerbi is hugely overrated though.

Chris Sutton
1994-95 Premier League title winner

Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi has this reputation of being a great coach. We saw what a good job he did at Brighton, but we haven't seen any improvement from Spurs yet, despite the big money they have spent.

He is surely going to come under pressure soon, if their poor results continue.

They are not the only ones to revamp their squad but, if you listen to De Zerbi, after about five years they might come good. He keeps saying they need time, but he's had long enough for their results to be much better already.

Mikej675389: De Zerbi may pretend otherwise, but he is in panic mode already.

Tottenham Hotspur

Image source, Reuters

Since Tottenham won the 2025 Europa League final 16 months ago...

• Ange Postecoglou - sacked
• Thomas Frank - sacked
• Igor Tudor - leaves role after five league games
• Roberto de Zerbi - three wins in 11 league games

Kevin Nolan
Former Newcastle midfielder on Premier League Kick-Off

I am really worried about Tottenham.

Every week Roberto de Zerbi has a different excuse. He doesn't stay around much at clubs and falls out with a lot of his owners.

He's probably thinking: 'Do I need this?'.

He is not inspiring me as he was at the back end of last season in his interviews when he was very jolly and very positive about what he had to do.

Everything is downbeat and it doesn't feel right when you're watching him in a press conference. Laying the blame on players and staff...it doesn't go anywhere other than the wrong way.

Tottenham Hotspur

Image source, Getty Images

Quick, someone get this to Roberto de Zerbi so he can hang it up in the Spurs dressing room.

GEeKorUNiquE: Sixty years of supporting Spurs, and I can't remember a time when we looked so toothless in front of goal.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

What odds on a second successive goalless home draw for Tottenham?

Spurs (3.45) and Aston Villa (3.39) have the lowest xG in the Premier League - both still worse than bottom club Coventry, who are pointless and goalless, but have an xG of 4.21.

The 0-0 draw with Everton last weekend was Spurs first in the Premier League at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a run of 140 games.

Tottenham are searching for their first league goal of the season while Villa scored their first in the top flight in their defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend.

A 3-1 win at Coventry in the Carabao Cup has at least helped Villa gain some momentum, having also beaten Club Brugge 3-2 in the Champions League earlier this month.

How did Tottenham and Aston Villa get into this mess?