View: Tottenham gem really is destined for top after overtaking Dele record

Archie Gray overtook a Tottenham Hotspur record held by Dele Alli after their Champions League win over Atletico Madrid.

Gray, who just turned 20, put in a superb display in Tottenham’s 3-2 win over Atletico on Wednesday night, with the former Leeds United star bagging an assist for Xavi Simons shortly after half time.

The England Under-21 international is a midfielder by trade but has frequently been used as a defender since his £40million move to Tottenham in 2024.

Gray and Lucas Bergvall are two rising stars of the game but it is the former who has joined some impressive company after the Atletico match.

Indeed, after playing in Spurs’ win over Atletico, Gray has now made more Champions League starts (seven) for Tottenham while under the age of 21 than any other player in the North London club’s history, overtaking Alli (six) in the process.

Archie Gray taking midfield chance at Tottenham

Gray has made 77 appearances for Tottenham so far, scoring two goals and bagging three assists in all competitions.

The Tottenham star, who has become the fourth youngest Englishman to bag an assist in a Champions League knockout game, has become a Swiss Army Knife at Spurs.

Indeed, Gray has played at right-back, left-back, centre-back, right midfield, defensive, midfield, and in central midfield to date.

Centre-back has been his most prominent position but the Atletico game, arguably, showed where his true strengths lie – in the centre of the park.

For Tottenham’s second, he intercepted the ball in Atletico’s half, showed some excellent interplay, before Simons did the rest.

Tottenham have a big talent on their hands. And it seems Igor Tudor believes together with Pape Sarr, Spurs have a strong duo in the base of their midfield.

He said after the game: “He’s a guy, you know the positions he plays everywhere, so probably this position in the middle is, I believe, the best one for him.

“It’s a mix of quality, physically and mentally, to always make the right choices and be humble and have legs to do so. Together with Pape, I see them very well, there’s a quality between these two players. The last two games, they really made a difference.”

Gray shines but Pedro Porro struggles

According to Sofascore, Gray had a 88 per cent passing accuracy, was successful with two out of his three dribbles, carried the ball nearly 83 metres, and made three defensive contributions.

Gray also chalked up nine recoveries, and made a combined two clearances and interceptions as Tottenham went out of the Champions League to Atletico with an aggregate score of 5-7.

While Gray shone, Pedro Porro didn’t have his best night in a Spurs shirt as he was frequently turned over by the Spanish side.

Tottenham were never really likely to make it into the quarter-finals of the Champions League after losing the first leg in Spain 5-2.

But at a time when you need your leaders and big-match players to step up, Porro was, largely, found wanting.

Maybe questions need to be asked about whether he starts against Nottingham Forest on Sunday in a crucial Premier League six-pointer.

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