Tottenham’s trip to Elland Road on Saturday will be a tough game for Daniel Farke’s men, but it will be an emotional one for one Spurs player as Archie Gray returns to where it all began.
The teenage star, England U21 international and Thorp Arch product, will be back at Elland Road on the weekend, having left Leeds little over a year ago. Tottenham paid a massive £40m to sign Archie Gray.
A quarter of which was immediately sent back to Tottenham for the permanent purchase of Joe Rodon, who also faces his old side on Saturday for the first time. Djed Spence will return after his failed loan.
But for Gray, it will be an emotional one. The teenager returns to where it all started, a club where his family is so ingrained. Gray is the fourth member of the Gray family to play for Leeds, Harry the fifth.
Tottenham fans want Archie Gray to start against Leeds United
Ahead of Saturday’s clash, Gray came on as a substitute for Tottenham on Tuesday night in their 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League. Gray came on after 82 minutes, with Tottenham losing 2-1.
But it was Gray that saved Tottenham’s blushes, combining with Richarlison before he slammed an effort at goal. Bodo/Glimt’s goalkeeper saved it, but it ricocheted off Jostein Gundersen into the back of the net.
While it was not Gray on the score sheet, it was his ingenuity and guile that saved a point for Spurs in the Champions League. Following that, Tottenham fans have urged Thomas Frank to start Gray against Leeds.
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Following his involvement in Tottenham’s equaliser, one Spurs fan said Gray is “banging on the door” to start on Saturday. Another simply put on X that midfielder “Gray must start against Leeds on Saturday”.
The clamour among Spurs fans to start Gray is growing, after a season in which Gray largely played as a centre-back. Another wants a start for Gray as “he did more in eight minutes than his Spurs teammates”.
Spurs fans are clear in their message: they want Gray to start over Rodrigo Bentancur. Another said that Gray “should start 100% on Saturday”. Another said, “he’s been class, he should start on Saturday”.
Archie Gray’s career in numbers so far, at Leeds and Spurs
It is crazy to think that Gray only made his professional debut for Leeds a little over two years ago. Gray was supposed, or expected, to make his debut under Jesse Marsch before an injury in pre-season in 2022.
Gray was a regular under Daniel Farke, starting in Farke’s first game – a 2-2 draw against Cardiff City. He would go on to play more than 50 games for Leeds before his £40m move to North London in 2024.