---
title: "Tottenham Hotspur: Serge Aurier won’t feature for Lilywhites in opening game"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-hotspur-serge-aurier-wont-feature-for-lilywhites-in-opening-game/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Uways Nisar"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2019-08-10T13:05:30Z"
modified: "2019-08-10T13:05:30Z"
---

# Tottenham Hotspur: Serge Aurier won’t feature for Lilywhites in opening game

**Tottenham Hotspur full-back Serge Aurier will not feature against Aston Villa in the club’s opening Premier League fixture.**

The Spurs man isn’t the only one missing, with [Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Ben Davies, Juan Foyth, and Son Heung-min](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49215981) also set to be out of the game (as reported on by BBC Sport).

Saturday’s game is the Lilywhite’s first match at home on the opening day of a [Premier League season since 2010.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49215981)

Aston Villa’s last win over the North London giants was back in April 2015, when Christian Benteke scored the only goal of the game.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Losing Serge Aurier could spell trouble for Spurs, especially with Mauricio Pochettino’s other right-back Juan Foyth already out with an ankle injury. With Kieran Trippier having departed for Atletico Madrid, the Argentine had been ready to [make that right-back spot his own](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham/tottenham-defender-juan-foyth-happy-to-compete-for-regular-rightback-role-after-kieran-trippier-exit-a4198931.html).

Ultimately, the above leaves Kyle Walker-Peters as the only remaining option for Pochettino.

Aurier has been good defensive signing for Tottenham since joining from Paris Saint Germain. The Ivorian averages [more tackles and more interceptions](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/83683/History/Serge-Aurier) than[Walker-Peters](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/313672/History/Kyle-Walker-Peters), showing his defensive nous against wingers (via WhoScored).

In 11 games last season, Walker-Peters managed to average over [one in just one defensive category](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/313672/History/Kyle-Walker-Peters). His struggles were highlighted during his Champions League outing against [Barcelona, where he was substituted after 61 minutes.](https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/12/13/tottenhams-draw-with-barcelona-would-have-been-bittersweet-for-m/)

Given the lack of options for Pochettino, the winger who plays ahead will need to ensure he helps the fairly inexperienced defender or else it could be a long afternoon.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Tracking back will be a key aspect of the fixture, as the youngster will be up against Aston Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi. The Dutchman was in brilliant form last season, [scoring six goals and assisting six](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/232261/History/Anwar-El-Ghazi). He averaged [1.2 dribbles per game](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/232261/History/Anwar-El-Ghazi) in the Championship, highlighting his desire to run at his defensive opponent.

***Tottenham fans, worried about Walker-Peters inexperience? Let us know in the comment section below!***