Tottenham Hotspur have improved during the 2025-26 season, with the North London club going into the international break in third place on the Premier League table.
New manager Thomas Frank has made Tottenham more resilient and versatile, with Spurs beating Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road last time out.
Tottenham signed Joao Palhinha over the summer on loan from Bayern Munich, with the Portuguese battler making the London club more compact in the centre of the park.
However, with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski both sidelined with long-term injuries, Spurs’ midfield balance still doesn’t feel right.
Archie Gray itching for an opportunity
Tottenham signed Archie Gray from Leeds last summer for a reported £40 million and the teenager had an impressive first season in the Premier League.
With Spurs suffering defensive injuries, the England under-21 star filled in at centre-half on plenty of occasions and excelled despite playing out of position.
Tottenham have more options at the back now and Gray has been starved of action this term, making only two Premier League appearances from the bench so far.
Frank clearly rates the likes of Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall, but Gray deserves more of a chance to contribute in the Spurs first team.
Palhinha or Sarr alternative
Gray is comfortable on the ball, has football intelligence beyond his years and the energy to get from box to box.
While Palhinha has been a mainstay in the Tottenham team this season so far, there is an argument that someone like Gray has more ability on the ball and could be an alternative in home games where Spurs will dominate possession.
Although he does not have the same incredible engine as Sarr, Gray offers a smarter footballing option than the African.
Despite signing a new contract, Rodrigo Bentancur has been off the pace this season and does not look like the same player after recovering from serious injury.
Moving forward, playing Palhinha, Gray and a creative option like Bergvall or Xavi Simons feels like a better balance for Frank’s Tottenham team.