Why unloved Conor Gallagher is key to Tottenham beating Aston Villa
Conor Gallagher may not be loved by Tottenham Hotspur fans.
But he must start for Spurs in their upcoming match against Aston Villa to give them the best chance of picking up their first victory of the season.
The midfielder has only played three games in all competitions so far this campaign, with Roberto De Zerbi often dropping him to the bench.
However, on Tuesday, he was given the nod to start against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, and he scored in the 3-1 defeat.
Now, De Zerbi must keep him in the starting XI, especially due to Gallagher’s excellent record against Aston Villa.
The England international has made a real habit of scoring against the Birmingham outfit in recent years.
Therefore, the 26-year-old could now be key to a victory on Saturday.
How good was Conor Gallagher vs Aston Villa?
In his last appearance against Aston Villa, Gallagher was excellent.
The midfielder netted the opener at Villa Park and was arguably the best player on the pitch.
According to Fotmob on 18 September, he had the most defensive contributions, had one shot, which was on target, completed 86 per cent of his passes, made two line-breaking passes and won four out of his seven ground duels.
This is perhaps unsurprising given that Gallagher has now scored in three of his last four matches against Villa.
Therefore, De Zerbi has to start him, as not only could he end the club’s goal drought in the division, but also play a key role in ensuring the club wins their first Premier League match of the campaign.
Aston Villa fixture is a must-win game for Roberto De Zerbi
If Tottenham do not beat Aston Villa on Saturday, De Zerbi will be under huge pressure.
The club could be stuck in the relegation zone during the three-week international break, which would be humiliating given the money that has been spent.
For De Zerbi, it could also be the point of no return, with a big portion of the fanbase likely to call for his dismissal if Spurs lose.
Therefore, while it is too early for this fixture to be a must-win for Tottenham, it is certainly a must-win for De Zerbi if he wants to stay in the job long-term.