Tottenham v Aston Villa live: Solanke returns to offer under-pressure Frank boost for FA Cup third-round tie | OneFootball

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The Problem With Thomas Frank's Spurs Nobody's Talking About

Tottenham host Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round as Thomas Frank faces a pressure clash in the all-Premier League tie.

Spurs have one win in six games and fell to a 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth in midweek to add to the unhappy atmosphere in north London. With the club struggling in the Premier League, the FA Cup represents Tottenham’s best chance of success this season but they face a tough tie against high-flying Villa.

Unai Emery’s side remain in an excellent position in the Premier League despite Arsenal recently ending their 11-game winning run, as well as the midweek draw at Crystal Palace. Villa’s last silverware was 20 years ago, in the 1996 League Cup, while their last FA Cup triumph was in 1957.

Both of these clubs have a proud history in the FA Cup, with Tottenham winning the trophy eight times to Villa’s seven. Follow live updates from the FA Cup third-round tie, which is live on BBC One, below:

FA Cup, Europa League or Premier League top four?

Aston Villa have a 10-point cushion to fifth-placed Brentford in the Premier League, so their position in the top four is looking secure.

So do Villa stick or twist? Focus on the Premier League and try and catch leaders Arsenal, or go for silverware in either the Europa League or FA Cup?

“Winning the FA Cup,” Morgan Rogers said, without a second of doubt, when asked by the BBC.

“I’ve been here when we’ve been in the top four. To win the FA Cup, something different, I’ve never won a trophy, would be really nice.”

(Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

Thomas Frank confirms Mohammed Kudus out until April

Tottenham’s dwindling midfield options have taken a mammoth blow after Thomas Frank confirmed Mohammed Kudus will be sidelined until April with injury.

Kudus went down with a thigh injury in last weekend’s draw with Sunderland, with Frank revealing the problem involves a tendon in his quad and will therefore require a lengthy period of rehabilitation.

"Mohammed Kudus unfortunately is a bigger one to the tendon in the quad,” he said ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Aston Villa. “That is one where we expect him back after the March international break."

Thomas Frank confirms Mohammed Kudus out until April in huge Tottenham injury blow

Kudus went down off the ball with a thigh injury against Sunderland last weekend

Jamie Braidwood10 January 2026 16:30

Cristian Romero given further ban for behaviour in Liverpool defeat

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero has been given a further one-match ban and been fined £50,000 for his behaviour in his side’s defeat to Liverpool last month, in which he was sent off.

Romero admitted to a Football Association charge of "acting improperly by failing to leave the field of play promptly" after he was shown red in the 93rd minute of Tottenham's 2-1 home loss on 20 December.

The Spurs captain was dismissed for a second bookable offence after kicking out at Ibrahima Konate late into the contest, which came after the Argentinian had been fouled by the Liverpool defender.

He already had a yellow card to his name for dissent earlier in the second half and was then alleged to have behaved in a "confrontational and/or aggressive manner towards the referee" after being sent off.

Following a hearing, an independent regulatory commission has now imposed a one-match suspension and a £50,000 fine.

Cristian Romero given further ban for behaviour in Liverpool defeat

Romero was sent off against Liverpool before failing to leave the field in a proper manner

Jamie Braidwood10 January 2026 16:15

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank explains gaffe after holding Arsenal-branded coffee cup

Thomas Frank defended himself after a picture emerged of the Tottenham manager holding an Arsenal-branded coffee cup before Spurs’ defeat by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Frank walked around the pitch before kick-off holding the cup, which displayed the club crest of Tottenham’s bitter north London rivals.

Leaders Arsenal were the previous visitors to the Vitality Stadium, having celebrated a 3-2 success at the ground on Saturday.

“I definitely didn’t notice it,” Frank said of the cup. “I think it’s fair to say we’re not winning every single football match so it would be absolutely, completely stupid of me to take a cup with Arsenal’s (emblem on).

“They have been in the changing room the game before us. It’s normal to take a cup, give me an espresso, I do that before every game, so I think actually it’s a little bit sad in football that I need to be asked a question about that.

“We’re definitely going in the wrong direction if we need to be worry about me having a cup with a logo of another club. Of course I would never do that. That’s extremely stupid.”

Jamie Braidwood10 January 2026 16:00