By Hope Robinson (26/9/26)
Above: Maya Hijikata battling hard in Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw vs Brighton & Hove Albion. Photo: Aston Villa FC
Hope Robinson attended Aston Villa’s press conference this week ahead of their Women’s Super League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at BetWright Stadium on Sunday, with Villa looking to claim points against the league’s second-placed side.
Fixture Overview
Tottenham Hotspur host Aston Villa at BetWright Stadium on Sunday 27th September at 14:00 in the Women’s Super League, with Villa looking for their first league win of the season.
Aston Villa travel to North London after a difficult opening run, while Tottenham have made an unbeaten start and currently sit second in the WSL.
Furthermore, it will be Kirsty Hanson’s first meeting with her former side since making the move from Villa to Tottenham in the summer. Hanson scored 12 WSL goals for Villa last season and has already scored twice for Spurs this campaign.
Form Guide
Going into gameweek four, Villa sit 11th with two points from two draws and one defeat, while Tottenham are second with seven points from two wins and one draw.
Both sides also played in the Players League Cup in midweek, with Villa beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 and Tottenham suffering defeat on penalties.
The win provided a positive response for Villa after their 1-1 draw with Brighton, with Natalia Arroyo pleased with the way her side reacted.
“If you take one point of your bad days, it’s also important, something that is valuable.”
Villa will now look to carry that momentum into their first league win of the season.
Previous Meetings
The sides have met 18 times across all competitions, with Tottenham winning eight, Villa winning five and five ending in draws.
The most recent meeting came at Villa Park in February, when Tottenham won 7-3 in a ten-goal thriller.
Villa’s last victory over Tottenham came away from home in April 2023, when (now Lilywhite) Kirsty Hanson scored a 90th-minute winner.
Team News
Wednesday’s Players League Cup victory gave Villa the opportunity to rotate their squad and provide minutes to players who have had fewer opportunities this season.
Arroyo believes the additional matches are important for the development of her squad.
“The more games you have, the more you feel you give them the chance to show their level, to grow the best.”
“We knew that there’s room for everybody in different moments of the season now” highlighted the importance of having a squad capable of contributing throughout the season.
Moreover, the result also allowed Villa to head into the weekend with fresh legs and another opportunity to build momentum.
Tactical Battle
Maintaining their level across the full 90 minutes will be crucial for Villa, particularly against a Tottenham side capable of producing late attacking pressure.
Villa struggled in this area at times last season, but Arroyo believes improvements have been made through both recruitment and work on the physical and mental sides of the game.
“We are trying to increase the load and the intensity whenever it’s possible so that we are ready from the physical point of view.”
However, she believes consistency is about more than fitness.
“It’s also like how many solutions you have, how strong you can stay.”
Villa will need to remain disciplined when Tottenham apply pressure, with Arroyo warning of the hosts’ individual quality.
“They have individuals that can kill a good strategy.”
Players to Watch
Kirsty Hanson will pose a huge threat.
The forward is highly direct and clinical, making her one of the hosts’ main attacking threats.
Her knowledge of Villa’s players and style could make her particularly influential, while Villa will be aware of the threat by a player who knows the team well.
Villa’s summer recruitment has also added players with experience of competing at the highest level, including Juventus arrivals Amalie Vangsgaard and Mathilde Harviken.
Arroyo believes their experience can accelerate the team’s development.
“The more we can add players coming from strong, strong environments, the quicker we will grow.”
She added:
“We need that experience from them so that we can grow quicker.”
Strengths and Weaknesses
Villa have already shown they can compete with sides near the top of the table, taking points from Chelsea and Brighton.
Their ability to remain competitive in difficult games could be important against Tottenham, although turning those performances into wins remains the next step.
Against Brighton, Villa did not produce their best performance but still found a way to take a point.
“We did not play a good enough performance, but we found our way of finding a magical action and getting a point, which is also important.”
Tottenham’s attacking quality will provide another test, with Villa needing to limit their opportunities while maintaining their own threat.
Arroyo expects Spurs to make it difficult for Villa to settle into the match.
“They will try to reduce the time where we are comfortable and we show our strength.”
Manager’s View
Arroyo expects another difficult test against Tottenham, who she believes have continued the progress shown during the previous campaign.
“They did an incredible season last year, especially the first half of the season.”
She also pointed to Spurs’ summer recruitment as another reason for their strong start.
“They had a strong recruitment process as well.”
Villa will need to be aggressive but also intelligent in their approach.
“We want to be aggressive, but we know it won’t be happening as much as we tried at Villa Park.”
Despite Tottenham’s position in the table, Arroyo remains confident Villa can compete.
“We will be able to compete against them, to play to our strengths, to try to minimise their strengths.”
She also believes Tottenham have vulnerabilities Villa can target.
“They have their weaknesses, they have their vulnerabilities as well. Let’s see if we can find a way of attacking them.”
Key Matchday Battles
Villa’s ability to maintain their performance level late in the match could be decisive, particularly against a Tottenham side that scored five goals in the final 20 minutes of their last WSL fixture.
Arroyo admitted that squad depth had contributed to previous problems but believes recruitment has helped address the issue.
“Sometimes it was a thing of not having the depth because of availability. We tried to address this from recruitment.”
The aim is now to change Villa’s mindset around the final stages of matches.
“If we can turn this mentality of we are weak on the last 20 minutes to change thinking, okay, actually we are in the other way. We are feeling strong.”
Villa will also need to manage Tottenham’s attacking quality without losing their own identity, particularly against a side Arroyo believes has strengthened through its summer recruitment.
Arroyo knows her side will need to be selective in when they attack and when they manage the game.
“You just need to continue picking the moment.”
“We will be able to compete against them, to play to our strengths, to try to minimise their strengths.”
With Tottenham sitting second and Villa still searching for their first league win, Sunday’s meeting could provide a clearer indication of whether Villa’s improved squad depth and mentality can turn competitive performances into results.
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