Tottenham vs Aston Villa is a 'momentum swinger' as both seek first Premier League win
Paul Merson has branded Saturday's Tottenham vs Aston Villa clash a 'huge game' and a 'momentum swinger', with both sides winless in the Premier League. The Sky Sports pundit also tipped Arsenal to defend their title 'by double digits' this season.
- Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Competition: Premier League
- Date: Saturday
- Spurs status: Winless in the Premier League, still seeking their first league goal of the season
- Villa status: Winless in the Premier League, after a 'terrible result' against Nottingham Forest
- Merson verdict: 'It's a big game for both teams because it's a momentum swinger' — win it and you can kick on after the international break
What was said
"The first 15, 20 minutes I thought they [Spurs] were outstanding [vs Everton]. I thought the way they passed it, moved it, it caused problems for Everton. But they didn't get that goal. And when they don't get that goal, then that mindset sets in again."
"I think they'd still be playing now [without scoring], wouldn't they? That is the problem. They need to score early. And confidence is the thing as well."
"I say any footballer, I don't care if you're under-10s or professional, if you can bottle one thing, it's confidence. And at the moment, they just haven't got that confidence and the belief. And that's the problem, that belief."
"No. I think they [Villa] have too many good players, if I'm being honest. I think it was a terrible result against Nottingham Forest. It was worrying. They were dominating but couldn't score a goal. But I'd be shocked if they got relegated. They've got too many good players, and they've got one of the best managers in the business. They're just having a little bit of a time at the moment."
"I do think this is a big game this weekend [vs Tottenham], though. It's a huge game. Down at the bottom, if you're down there, you're down there. I don't worry about Tottenham or Villa, but I think it's a big game for both teams because it's a momentum swinger. You win it, then you can kick on after the international break. It's a big football match."
"I think they [Arsenal] will win the Premier League by double digits. I think they'll win it easy. I look at Arsenal's fixtures: Man City away, Man Utd away, Chelsea away, Liverpool away. After those four games, I don't know who's beating Arsenal. They're just a hard, hard team to beat. I don't see them losing a lot of football matches this season."
"The shackles are off a bit. No one can call Arsenal bottle jobs any more. So the pressure is off. And they just play with that feeling like they've had an email through and told them, 'you know what the score is going to be already'. I just watched them against Villa, and you watch them against Sunderland, and there's no panic. They play; it's patient. They will score in the end and the opposition won't. That is the way they are at the moment."
Merson's assessment of Spurs centres on a psychological block rather than a tactical one. He praises the first 15 to 20 minutes against Everton — the passing, the movement, the problems caused — before the missing goal triggers a familiar downward spiral. His point is that no amount of structure survives a team that cannot score early.
For Villa, the concern is different. Merson rejects the idea of a relegation battle outright, citing the quality of the squad and the calibre of the manager, but admits the Nottingham Forest result was worrying precisely because Villa dominated without scoring. His verdict is that both clubs are too good to go down, yet neither can afford to treat Saturday lightly.
Why Merson calls this a 'momentum swinger' — and why he's right about Arsenal
The table may only be a few games old, but Merson is framing Saturday as a season-defining fork in the road for Tottenham and Aston Villa. Both are winless. Spurs have not scored a single Premier League goal. Villa dominated Nottingham Forest and still failed to find the net. Win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the international break becomes a platform to 'kick on'. Lose, and the mindset problem Merson describes only deepens.
What makes his Spurs analysis compelling is the specificity. He does not say Tottenham lack quality; he says they lack belief once the first goal evades them. That is a coachable problem only if the players start fast and take an early chance. Against a Villa side that also arrives anxious, the first 20 minutes will decide the mood inside the stadium — and Merson clearly expects Spurs to start well again.
On Arsenal, Merson goes further than most pundits. He names the four away fixtures — Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool — and argues that once those are navigated, he cannot see who beats them. He describes a team without panic, patient in possession, confident that they 'will score in the end and the opposition won't'. That is a reference to their performances against Villa and Sunderland, both used as evidence of a side that no longer carries the old 'bottle jobs' tag. If Merson is right, the title race could be over earlier than anyone expects.
Talking points
- Can Tottenham really fix a confidence problem in one match, or does the absence of a league goal this season point to a deeper attacking flaw?
- Merson says Villa have 'too many good players' to be relegated — but a winless start after dominating Nottingham Forest suggests the squad is underperforming its talent.
- Is Merson's 'double digits' Arsenal prediction bold analysis or premature hype, given the four away fixtures he himself identifies as the season's pivot?
- Both teams may be 'too good to go down', yet only one can win on Saturday — does the loser face a genuine crisis after the international break?
What happens next
Spurs and Villa meet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday in the Premier League. Victory for either side lifts the immediate pressure and provides a platform 'to kick on after the international break'; defeat leaves one of them still winless, still searching for answers, and facing a two-week pause to dwell on it. Arsenal, meanwhile, must negotiate the four away fixtures Merson has identified — starting with Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool — to justify his double-digit title prediction.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Paul Merson call Tottenham vs Aston Villa a 'momentum swinger'?
Because both teams are winless in the Premier League and the winner can 'kick on after the international break'. Merson says the match is 'a big game for both teams' and 'a huge game'.
Does Merson think Aston Villa will be relegated?
No. He says he'd be 'shocked if they got relegated', citing 'too many good players' and 'one of the best managers in the business', although he calls the Nottingham Forest result 'terrible' and 'worrying'.
How does Paul Merson think Arsenal will do this season?
He predicts Arsenal will win the Premier League 'by double digits' and 'easy', saying after away games at Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool he doesn't know 'who's beating Arsenal'.
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