Aston Villa Shocks Tottenham 2-0
Manager Unai Emery praised his Aston Villa team after they increased the pressure on Tottenham boss Antonio Conte with a “fantastic” away win.
An error by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in his first game back since the World Cup allowed Emiliano Buendia to score, before Douglas Luiz doubled the lead at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Villa have won back-to-back away league games as they improve under Emery.
“We are so happy. We competed very well,” he said.
Lacklustre Spurs, who fell out of the Premier League top four on Saturday, have now won only two of their past seven matches.
France keeper Lloris endured a shocking moment in the 50th minute. He spilled Luiz’s long-range effort and Ollie Watkins squared the rebound for Buendia to slam home.
Luiz started and finished the move to make it 2-0, sliding a pass to John McGinn before racing on to receive the return and chipping cutely past Lloris.
Emery told the BBC: “Spurs were pushing us and we had options in the attacking third, and that was good for our confidence. Adding three more points was fantastic.”
Spurs were booed off at the final whistle, while some fans directed angry chants towards chairman Daniel Levy.
While Emery’s reign at Arsenal was not a success, he did manage to get the better of Tottenham, going unbeaten in three games against their local rivals.
He continued that trend on Sunday, a solid defensive performance justifying the decision to leave out a World Cup winner.
It appeared this contest would pit the two keepers who faced off in the 2022 World Cup final penalty shootout against each other, but Argentina’s spot-kick hero Emiliano Martinez had to settle for a place on the bench.
Robin Olsen kept his place in goal as Emery named an unchanged team from the side that lost to Liverpool on 26 December.
He was rewarded. Watkins and Buendia were bright to pounce on the opening Lloris handed them, while Luiz and Boubacar Kamara controlled midfield.
“Luiz and Kamara is a good combination,” said Emery. “To mix both of them is fantastic. Their performance today was fantastic to help us to win.”
Victory ensured Emery became the first Villa manager since John Gregory in 1998 to win his first two Premier League away matches.
“Every day when we are working, the players show me very good attitude and commitment,” he said. “They show today how they can run, be together, be disciplined together tactically and use our skills.”
Emery also set a record of 55 Premier League games in charge without being involved in a goalless draw, surpassing former Spurs boss Ossie Ardiles.
