Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank backs Archie Gray to excel as a midfielder
Thomas Frank has a lot to work with his squad after Tottenham Hotspur huffed and puffed in the 0-0 draw with AS Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Spurs were second best for large parts of the game, having struggled to get any sort of control or grip against AS Monaco. The home side registered 23 shots, with eight on target, testing Guglielmo Vicario from different positions. The shot-stopper stuck to his task and produced arguably his best performance for Tottenham, denying the Ligue 1 side multiple times to keep a clean sheet.
The Italian international’s efforts in goal saved the Lilywhites on the Champions League night and earned his team a valuable point, for which he received praises from Thomas Frank and Archie Gray.
Thomas Frank reveals what Archie Gray adds from the left-back position
Tottenham headed into the Monaco fixture with several first-teamers out. Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies missed out on the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend and did not travel with the squad to France. This forced Frank to make alterations to his starting XI, especially in defence.
With Udogie unavailable and Djed Spence in need of a breather after playing continuously since the start of the season, Frank decided to hand Archie Gray a start. The teenager started at left-back and completed the full 90 minutes. It was only his third start of the season in all competitions, and the Englishman was one of Tottenham’s better performers on the night.
Archie Gray, signed from Leeds United in 2024, played in various positions across defence last season under Ange Postecoglou. An injury crisis resulted in the 19-year-old getting opportunities, and despite being a midfielder by trade, he did well as a full-back and central defender.
Addressing the media after the game, Frank was asked what Gray can provide to the team from the left-back position. The Spurs gaffer said (h/t Football London):
“I think he solves it very well, as he’s done a lot of times last year, left-back, right-back and centre-back. I think he can play all three positions. I think his best position is still midfielder.
“But I think he can play all three. I like his character and effort in the left-back today. He just carried on when he came into the midfield and did well there as well.”
Gray should get more opportunities
Gray put in an assured display at left-back first, before being moved to midfield for the final 11 minutes after Spence was introduced. The Durham-born talent did his job well and barely flustered in pressure situations, which begs the question why Frank does not trust him more often?
As Spurs are hit with injuries in defence and games coming thick and fast, Gray’s minutes should see an increase in the coming weeks. The youngster is technically sound, tenacious and a good reader of the game, whilst his versatility remains an asset. Following his strong performance in France, Frank could be tempted to stick with Gray in the starting XI for Sunday’s trip to Everton. He’d be a good option to cover and compete with Spence at left-back amid Udogie’s persistent injury issues.
