Both teams will be aiming to avoid their worst starts in the Premier League in recent memory. Defeat for Spurs will make it their worst-ever opening since the launch of the competition, while Martin O’Neill’s Villa could be set for their poorest in five years. Tottenham have been unsettled by Dimitar Berbatov’s on, off and then on again move to Manchester United but have signed Russian ace Roman Pavlyuchenko to help out Darren Bent in attack. Aston Villa, who managed to keep captain Gareth Barry out of the clutches of Liverpool, have future England stars in Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young. After Theo Walcott’s star showing against Croatia, both will be out to catch Fabio Capello’s eye and push their claims.



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