Even though he was facing his toughest matchup of the season against the likes of Matheus Cunha and Amad Diallo at Old Trafford for Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester United, Archie Gray turned in what was probably his best overall performance of the 2026/27 Premier League season, even above the 0-0 clean sheet against Everton.
Gray was dominant defensively at the right back position, posting season highs with three tackles and three interceptions to lead Spurs in defensive interventions on the afternoon. The 20 year old center midfielder also drew a couple of fouls, and he has now boosted his season averages to 3 combined tackles and interceptions per game and 1.4 fouls drawn per game.
A lot of Tottenham players came into the 2026/27 Premier League season under the microscope after such a poor 2025/26 season, and while Gray was actually one of Spurs best performers last season, he had a huge point to prove this campaign after the sale of Djed Spence to Inter Milan following his heroic World Cup thrust the young midfielder into an unfamilair position as the main backup right back for Pedro Porro.
Archie Gray is clicking at right back
And with no signings at right back after Spurs bunked what would have been a brilliant swoop for Neco Williams and Porro suffering badly with fitness issues after the World Cup, Gray has been thrust into a weekly starting position. Porro is out until at least the Chelsea game later this month, so Gray drew that huge start against the Manchester United attack.
As expected, Gray has largely been shaky at right back, especially to start the season, but since that Everton game, he has turned it around and become better at not only defending but also balancing his duties so that he can actually get in and around the box and support the attack.
Gray was excellent against Manchester United in all regards. He was Tottenham's best ball winner, and he also could have had a goal himself with a run into the box, though Mohammed Kudus selfishly whipped a shot instead of having the intelligence and awareness to leave it for Gray to have a better shot on goal behind him.
Nevertheless, Gray is finding his form at right back at the perfect time, because Tottenham Hotspur still have not recovered Pedro Porro, who may not even be ready for the Chelsea game. Spurs should probably still look into another right back in the winter, but they will be less desperate to do so now that Gray is clicking.
Add us as a preferred source on Google