As Tottenham Hotspur completed their pre-match preparations last week, Igor Tudor stared down the barrel of a gun, aware that his trip to Anfield would likely spell the end of his brief stint at the Spurs helm.
Tudor, drafted in to replace the defeated Thomas Frank, had lost four on the trot in the Premier League, but it was not so much a trot as a pitiful limp, with a calamitous defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie adding insult to injury.
But Tottenham didn’t lose to Liverpool. They drew, and they were good value for the point too. Then they won, at home against Diego Simeone’s Atleti. It wasn’t enough to advance to the quarter-finals, but something vital has been restored at N17.
It’s confidence, and a belief that relegation from the Premier League can indeed be staved off. Tudor’s in the dugout, but who’s leading the charge? It’s not Cristian Romero, nor is it Micky van de Ven, but Archie Gray, a 20-year-old prospect playing with the maturity of someone twice his age.
Why Archie Gray is Spurs’ shining light
Gray has been put through the wringer over the past couple of years, but who can say that he hasn’t developed a thick skin to shield him throughout his professional journey?
Joining from Leeds United in 2024 in a deal just south of £30m, the England U21 star has already played 77 times for the Lilywhites, most of which he has been a teenager thrown across any number of positions on the pitch.
This has been tough on the young midfielder, but it has also hardened him and established him as one of the brightest talents in the country. After the win over Atletico, Spanish reporter Pablo Montano marvelled at the “complete footballer” and commented on his “great future” ahead.
He was excellent, the outstanding Lilywhite. He’s a proper leader, a “future Tottenham captain“, as said by the one and only Harry Redknapp at the start of the season.
|
Archie Gray vs Atletico Madrid (2nd Leg) |
|
|---|---|
|
Stats |
# |
|
Minutes played |
81′ |
|
Goals + Assists |
0 + 0 |
|
Touches |
57 |
|
Accurate passes |
38/43 (88%) |
|
Key passes |
2 |
|
Crosses |
1/1 |
|
Dribbles |
2/3 |
|
Carries |
10 |
|
Recoveries |
9 |
|
Def. contributions |
3 |
|
Duels won |
2/7 |
To be honest, it’s a classic case of ‘stats don’t tell the full story’. Gray was immense against the Spaniards, his crowning moment a vicious interception and assist for Xavi Simons. It was intriguing to see him leave the pitch to applause from home and away fans, with Marcos Llorente even shaking his hand as he left the pitch, breathless, after 81 minutes.
Tottenham’s Player of the Season? He’ll be in contention, to be sure. Gray already has the makings of a leader, an example for his younger peers to follow.
Certainly, the likes of Yves Bissouma and new recruit Conor Gallagher could take a leaf from his book, with both flattering to deceive in recent months. It would be unfair to write Gallagher off just yet, but the Malian could be staring at the end of his Spurs journey, out of contract this summer.
There’s a lot of young potential waiting to course onto the big pitch, after all, with one young midfielder in particular showing he can be the next Gray.
Tudor has found the new Archie Gray
It’s both a plus and a negative that Gray is emerging as Tottenham’s most mature and rousing player. The lack of leadership across the squad is stark, but if relegation can be avoided, the future is bright.
After all, Gray’s not the only one making waves, with Callum Olusesi making a positive impression off the bench during the 1-1 draw against Liverpool. The teenager was on the pitch when Richarlison scored late on, and he was in among the celebrations.
Olusesi came on again for the final nine minutes of action against Atletico Madrid, and he stood his ground and defended well, completing all six of his attempted passes.
He actually made his bow last season, featuring against Hoffenheim in the Europa League. Thus, he landed himself a European trophy while in the first phase of a promising career.
Could the rise of Olusesi, who is sure to earn further appearances, spell the end for Bissouma? The emergence does suggest that Bissouma is no longer needed to the same capacity, and it’s not like he’s proven himself indispensable in recent years.
|
Callum Olusesi’s Career Stats by Position |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Apps |
Goals + Assists |
|
Central midfield |
38 |
13 + 6 |
|
Defensive midfield |
19 |
4 + 0 |
|
Attacking midfield |
8 |
3 + 1 |
|
Centre-forward |
2 |
0 + 0 |
|
Right winger |
1 |
0 + 0 |
Hailed as being a part of a “special generation” at Tottenham’s academy by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Olusesi is now establishing himself as something of a trailblazer, an example for his fellow academy hopefuls to follow.
In that, he differs from Gray, who arrived as a youngster but for a significant fee after breaking into Leeds’ first team in the Championship.
In the end, he may well prove himself to be an even bigger talent than Gray, someone who can spearhead a successful new era down N17.
He was a monster vs Atleti: Spurs star looks like a Bale & Modric hybrid
Wednesday night could have proved a real breakthrough for one Spurs star.