Paul Merson has labelled Aston Villa's trip to Tottenham as a 'momentum swinger' for both clubs. The Sky Sports pundit believes the result could define the direction of their seasons after a difficult start.
Merson made the comments ahead of Saturday's Premier League fixture at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Both sides are yet to win a league game this term, with Villa sitting 19th on just one point from four matches. Tottenham are 17th and have also failed to score a league goal.
"I think this is a big game this weekend, though. It's a huge game," Merson said. He argued that a victory for either team could provide a platform to build on after the upcoming international break. "You win it, then you can kick on after the international break. It's a big football match."
Villa's current struggles
The pundit pointed to Villa's recent performance against Nottingham Forest as evidence of their underlying quality. He felt they dominated that match but ultimately lost 2-1 at Villa Park. Merson remains confident the squad possesses too much talent to be dragged into a relegation battle, despite their lowly league position.
Villa's form has been mixed, with a 3-1 win at Coventry in their last outing providing a welcome boost. Tammy Abraham scored twice in that victory, with Ross Barkley also on the scoresheet. That result followed the disappointing home defeat to Forest and a 4-0 opening day loss at Brighton.
The club's injury list continues to be a significant concern, with six first-team players currently sidelined. Amadou Onana, Brian Madjo, Ian Maatsen, Leon Goretzka, Pau Torres and João Gomes are all unavailable, stretching the squad's resources ahead of a critical period.
The wider context
While focusing on Villa's immediate challenge, Merson also gave his view on the title race. He believes Arsenal will win the Premier League by a double-digit margin, citing their tough away fixtures against Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool as a key factor.
For Villa, the immediate focus is solely on climbing the table. They travel to face a Tottenham side they beat 2-1 in the corresponding fixture last season, a result they will hope to repeat.
With only one goal scored and seven conceded in the league so far, improving at both ends of the pitch is the clear priority. The team's recent results show they can score, having netted three times at Coventry, but defensive solidity has been lacking. The full standings show the scale of the task, with Villa eleven points behind leaders Arsenal already.
Manager Unai Emery will need to find solutions from within his depleted squad to halt the winless run. A positive result in North London would provide a vital lift before the season pauses for international duty. The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.
This story first appeared at Sky Sports Football
