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 on Saturday 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. At VIlla, Emery has credit in the bank after turning them from a team floundering in mid-table to Europa League winners - qualifying for Europe every season since his arrival, and getting them back into the Champions League this year. This term there is a different remit, to be successful while integrating 10 new players - having spent more than £250m - following the summer exits.
Emery conceded he did not know exactly why Villa lost control during last Saturday's defeat by Nottingham Forest - but knows he was unable to make a significant impact from the touchline with all the new players still fitting in to their new set-up. He can look frantic in his technical area during games, but has an impressive ability to decompress immediately and speak to the players calmly by the time he has returned to the dressing room. Emery remains confident Villa will improve yet is relying on John McGinn and Tyrone Mings, as two of the senior players, to help him and the squad through a difficult patch.
It is a reason why both played in Wednesday's Carabao Cup win at Coventry rather than being rested. Captain McGinn has previously described learning Emery's methods as doing "a lot of homework". That may be why Aaron Wan-Bissaka has struggled in his opening three games as he tries to adapt quickly - the same too for other new signings perhaps overthinking their roles.
An extended three-week break follows Saturday's match. But the head coach will not get the much-needed time on the training ground with his squad, as many go on international duty. "This break is crazy because it's three weeks," Emery said.
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