Aston Villa won 3-2 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday to push Tottenham into the relegation zone, compounding a difficult afternoon that also saw Pedro Porro limp off with what his manager fears could be another extended absence.
Johan Manzambi struck in first-half stoppage time before Nicolas Jackson and Emi Buendia added goals after the break. Conor Gallagher and Jan Paul van Hecke netted late consolations that ended a four-game top-flight scoring drought for the hosts, though the match was 3-0 by the time fans began streaming out of the ground. It was Villa's first Premier League win of the season.
Porro lasted only 19 minutes before making way for Archie Gray. The 27-year-old had returned only recently from a small muscular problem that had kept him out of Spurs' draw with Everton and their Carabao Cup exit at Liverpool, and the fresh setback is considered serious enough to sideline him for at least three weeks. Spain have since removed him from their Nations League squad, where he had been expected to feature in matches against England, Croatia and Czechia. He will be unable to add to his 24 caps during the break.
"Listen, Pedro, I said after the World Cup, I said the management of Pedro should be different," De Zerbi told SpursPlay post-match. "Because after the World Cup, [there are] many games. I don't know what the problem is. It's a hamstring, I think. Hopefully, it's not a big problem."
Spurs were the better side in the opening exchanges and created several chances they could not convert. Mohammed Kudus was denied what would have been a goal when VAR ruled Andy Robertson offside in the build-up. Jackson then made it 2-0 after the hour, collecting a booming ball forward from Suzuki's own six-yard box that dropped deep into Tottenham territory before dispatching an unerring shot to the left corner. Buendia's long-range screamer with 11 minutes remaining completed the scoring before the late Spurs flurry.
Savinho was among Tottenham's more effective performers, creating four chances — joint most on the pitch — and registering three shots on target, with Suzuki producing a brilliant double save to deny him in the first half. The 22-year-old, who joined from Manchester City for up to £85m during the summer, completed three of seven attempted dribbles and took eight touches in the opposition box, yet has not scored or assisted since his debut goal against Charlton Athletic.
Suzuki's influence on Villa's afternoon extended well beyond those stops. The 24-year-old, signed from Parma for a fee in the region of £30m, made a number of key saves and provided the long pass that led directly to Jackson's goal.
"We needed the keeper," said Villa manager Unai Emery in his post-match interviews. "He is a keeper to save us. To make sure in the goal he has the quality and then he has the skills to play and build up. It is very important how he is doing it and sometimes taking some risks, but through those he is improving and learning."
De Zerbi said he chose not to address his players after the defeat, describing himself as very disappointed, very sad and very frustrated. He told reporters the manner in which Spurs conceded the second goal was incredible, and urged the squad's leaders to step up when the team is defending without the ball.
Spurs now carry two points from five Premier League matches — their worst return at this stage of a season. Across 14 games in all competitions under De Zerbi, Tottenham have won four and lost six, conceding 19 goals and scoring 16. Their next chance to claim a first league win comes on October 10, when they travel to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Reporting: Evening Standard, BBC Sport, Football Insider, Metro, The Sun, ESPN, talkSPORT, Sport Witness, Daily Mail, GiveMeSport, RTÉ, CBS Sports, Football Italia, TeamTalk.