Aston Villa secured their first Premier League win of the season with a dramatic 3-2 victory at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The result lifts Unai Emery's side to 16th in the table with four points from their opening five games, providing a key boost after a slow start.

Johan Manzambi was the catalyst. The 20-year-old, a summer signing for a fee exceeding £50 million, opened the scoring just before half-time after a quick move from a goal-kick. He then set up Nicolas Jackson for Villa's second. Jackson's strike was his first in the Premier League since April 2025, while Emiliano Buendía sealed the win with a 25-yard effort in the 79th minute.

Manzambi's instant impact

Manzambi's immediate influence justified Villa's significant investment. Operating in a fluid role, he dropped deep to link play and was involved in the game's defining moment. Villa's second goal exemplified their new approach, originating from goalkeeper Zion Suzuki's kick and involving just three passes over ten seconds before Jackson finished. "We knew because this season Aston Villa are playing 86 per cent more long balls than last season," said Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi after the match, acknowledging the tactical shift. The young forward's performance offers fresh optimism and a direct replacement for the departed Morgan Rogers in Emery's system.

Jackson and Buendía extend Villa's attack

The contributions from Nicolas Jackson and Emiliano Buendía underlined the depth of Villa's revamped forward line. Jackson's goal was a timely return to form, and his partnership with Manzambi showed early promise, with the pair seen in deep conversation after the final whistle. Buendía's spectacular late strike ultimately proved the winner. This was a significant improvement, given the team had scored only once in the league prior to this fixture.

The win continues a positive trend for Villa in north London, where they have now won five of their last seven Premier League away games against Spurs. It also marks manager Unai Emery's fifth win in his past six visits to the capital in all competitions. The team will look to build on this momentum when they host high-flying Brentford, who are fourth, on October 10.

This story first appeared at nytimes.com