Tottenham Hotspur failed to secure victory against Aston Villa in their last Premier League fixture, and a worrying pattern involving Cristian Romero has now begun to emerge.
It was a second defeat for Tottenham Hotspur under Thomas Frank when Aston Villa visited the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The 2-1 scoreline summed up an afternoon where Spurs could not capitalise on their bright start, with Rodrigo Bentancur’s early strike proving to be their only reward.
The result leaves Tottenham in sixth place in the Premier League table, with hopes of an immediate response when they next take to the pitch.

Cristian Romero’s absence exposes Tottenham struggles
Thomas Frank was without Cristian Romero for the league fixture against Aston Villa, with the Argentine ruled out after picking up a knock during the warm-up.
The Tottenham manager later confirmed that Romero’s injury is not expected to be serious, but the Argentine’s absence was glaring as Spurs struggled to contain the Villans’ attacking threat in his absence, with statistics now showing a worrying trend.
According to available data, Tottenham have managed to win just 23% (6 out of 26) of their Premier League matches without Romero since the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
However, with the defender in the starting lineup, that figure jumps to 50% (29 out of 58) – a stark contrast that underlines his influence on the team’s stability.
Romero’s presence at the heart of defence brings both structure and aggression to Tottenham’s backline, qualities that were sorely missed against Aston Villa.
Spurs need Romero back for vital run of fixtures
Thomas Frank will be hoping that Romero’s injury does not keep him out for long, given how pivotal he remains to this Tottenham side.
The Argentine will be crucial over the next six fixtures, which are set to come in quick succession over less than three weeks, making consistency and leadership at the back absolutely vital.
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Tottenham’s defensive lapses against Aston Villa were evident in both of the goals conceded, with neither long-range effort being effectively closed down by surrounding players.
It is the sort of defensive scenario Cristian Romero typically snuffs out with his anticipation and intensity – his numbers back that up, with 1.98 tackles per game (Top 19%) and 1.58 interceptions (Top 10%) according to recent statistics.
There is no doubt that Spurs look a completely different side when Romero is missing, and for Frank, ensuring the defender’s swift return could prove decisive in keeping their season on track.
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