Adrian Clarke analyses the key summer signings and the impact they could make at their new clubs in the Premier League this season.
Player analysis - Archie Gray (Spurs)
Calm, composed and technically outstanding, Gray’s footballing IQ is astonishingly high for an 18-year-old.
At Leeds United last season, he was learning his trade at first-team level in a high-pressure environment, but nothing fazed him, so the youngster quickly became a must-pick for Daniel Farke.
Belying his rookie status, Gray consistently made good decisions, both in and out of possession, to earn the full trust of his manager.
Tottenham Hotspur’s summer signing is an intelligent footballer with serious promise.
Position: A versatile performer
Gray’s preferred role is as a ball-playing box-to-box central midfielder.
He could be used as a deep-lying midfielder or further forward, but his all-round game lends itself to being a natural No 8, either in a double-pivot (as he was at Leeds), or as part of a midfield trio.
Gray started last season in that position, impressing in the role, but when right-back became a problem area, he was instead asked to shift into Farke’s defence. Indeed, he played almost two-thirds of the season at right-back (64 per cent), while 24 per cent of his 3,870 minutes in the Championship were in a defensive midfield role.
As a full-back, Gray’s quality on the ball shines brightly and he will naturally invert into more central areas when his side is in possession.
Ange Postecoglou is likely to view Gray primarily as a midfielder, but his assured performances at right-back make him a viable option there if needed.
Style: Team player
Try not to judge Gray on the chances he creates, the shots he takes, or the goals and assists he delivers. That is not what his game is about.
At this stage of his fledgling career, Gray is a player who specialises in smoothly helping his side tick, with and without the ball.
Always available for a pass, Gray is unflustered in tight areas and exceptionally press-resistant.
Using his quick mind and feet to good effect, he manoeuvres the ball with real quality, feeding the right passes into the feet of his team-mates.
He will also work hard to win the ball back and show aggression when necessary.
It was Gray’s well-timed challenge on Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo inside the box that created Leeds' opening goal in an FA Cup fifth round tie at Stamford Bridge in February.
At right-back, Gray was snappy in the tackle in last season’s Championship too. In fact, only four defenders successfully tackled a dribbling player more often than he did.
Tackles from dribbles in Championship 23/24
| Player | Club | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Trai Hume | Sunderland | 90 |
| Jamilu Collins | Cardiff | 71 |
| Wesley Hoedt | Watford | 62 |
| Ki-Jana Hoever | Stoke | 61 |
| Archie Gray | Leeds | 59 |
| Perry Ng | Cardiff | 59 |
Eye-catching trait: Ball carrying
In that FA Cup contest against Chelsea, Gray produced six successful dribbles during a classy and confident individual performance that showed he’s ready to make the step up.
His nimble footwork helps create space for himself, before using a quick turn of pace to burst away from opponents.
According to Opta, Gray made 11 ball carries per 90 minutes last season.
Rather than creating lots of chances from those runs (nine in 2023/24) he will travel with the ball to commit defenders, before slipping a pass to somebody else in space.
How does he fit in?
Postecoglou rotated his midfielders a lot during the final few weeks of 2023/24, seemingly unhappy with the balance of his midfield.
Gray will add real competition for places in that area of the pitch.
His athleticism and composed style of play fits well with Spurs and he will challenge the likes of Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr or Rodrigo Bentancur for a starting spot.
While it is very hard and perhaps unfair to compare Gray’s Championship numbers from right-back with the Spurs midfield, it is clear he shares similar attributes.
He will have to make more passes than he did at Leeds, but Gray will not be perturbed by that.
Gray compared to Spurs midfielders 23/24*
| Player | Tackles | Poss. won | Duels won | Succ. passes | Dribbles completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archie Gray | 2.3 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 33.8 | 1.1 |
| Pape Sarr | 1.5 | 6.2 | 4.1 | 50.4 | 0.8 |
| Yves Bissouma | 3.5 | 5.5 | 6 .6 | 73.0 | 1.2 |
| Rodrigo Bentancur | 2.1 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 60.0 | 1.0 |
*Per 90 minutes
Smart acquisition
One of Gray’s biggest strengths is his temperament, so he looks to possess both the technical and mental qualities to handle this move very well.
He is a high potential player who is good enough to earn game-time right away, but with the potential to grow significantly over the next two to three seasons.
A young footballer who makes life easier for those around him, Spurs have made a smart early summer acquisition.
