Suzuki steps into Martinez's role as Villa secure first Premier League win at Tottenham

Zion Suzuki produced crucial saves as Aston Villa recorded their first Premier League victory of the season at Tottenham in a match on 19 September 2026, helping the visitors hold out despite a late Spurs push.

Suzuki joined Villa from Italian side Parma in August for a fee in the region of £30m and was thrust into the role left vacant by the departure of Argentina number one - and fan favourite - Emiliano Martinez to Chelsea; manager Unai Emery said after the game: "We needed the keeper," and added, "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."

Johan Manzambi and Nicolas Jackson both scored for Villa, while Suzuki produced two saves from Savio within seconds and saw Archie Gray's effort clip wide off his foot, moments that allowed Villa to ride out a spell of Tottenham pressure.

Suzuki also contributed directly to the second goal with a long clearance from his own six-yard box that dropped into Tottenham territory, where Jackson collected it and "dispatched an unerring shot to the left corner." Emery underlined that aspect of his game, saying: "In the build up, he can choose to play long balls because he has a very long pass in behind and he did that for the second goal we scored."

Named after Mount Zion, Suzuki was born in the United States to a Ghanaian father and a Japanese mother, has already played in Japan, Belgium and Italy, and has won 28 caps for his country; Dennis Rudel, described in the report as "his former coach at Sint-Truiden," said of the goalkeeper: "It is possible if he stays healthy."

The result saw Villa survive a late Spurs fightback to claim their first Premier League win of the season at a venue the report described as struggling Tottenham.

Commenting on Suzuki's physical attributes and shot-stopping, Rudel — "the former Union Berlin coach" in the article's words — added: "He has such big hands and he is powerful. When he can reach the ball, it is a 90-95% chance of a save. It is something really special."