Tottenham: Exciting Archie Gray offers solution to lingering Rodrigo Bentancur issue

Tottenham's 3-2 decision to Galatasaray connected Thursday was a chaotic crippled – axenic Europa League and possibly excessively messy and chaotic for immoderate important takeaways.

If determination were conclusions to beryllium drawn from the occasion, though, they came successful the performances of Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur, who some impressed for a Spurs broadside who were abject for agelong periods successful Istanbul.

For the 2nd European distant time running, Gray started out-of-position astatine left-back but the 18-year-old was the champion of a sloppy clump of visiting defenders, who gave up accidental aft accidental successful the archetypal hr and were fortunate to beryllium conscionable 3-1 down earlier a precocious rally pursuing Will Lankshear's reddish card.

Gray made Lankshear's first-half equaliser with an outstanding diagonal to Brennan Johnson, who squared for the teenage striker to people his archetypal elder goal, and kept the shot amended than astir of his teammates, contempt being connected his weaker near side. He besides stood up good to Gala's speedy close winger Barış Alper Yılmaz.

"[Lankshear] volition beryllium disappointed with [being sent off]," Postecoglou said. "He took his extremity well, helium worked hard for the team, I'm definite he'll larn from it.

"Same with Lucas. Understanding the levels determination is successful this game, you've got to exposure them to it.

"I thought Archie was great, to beryllium just to him.

"It's large we tin exposure 18-year-olds to this benignant of environment, it's going to mean they make quicker, turn from it and yet we'll payment from that."

Gray, Bergvall and Wilson Odobert – Spurs' 3rd teenage summertime signing, who has mostly been injured this play – person been grouped unneurotic since arriving astatine the club, but the England Under-21 planetary progressively looks the astir apt to interruption into Postecoglou's strongest XI.

The Australian has had thing but praise for Gray, often singling retired his versatility and maturity, but the caput manager has truthful acold exclusively started the midfielder successful cupful games astatine full-back oregon adjacent centre-half, wherever helium played the 2nd fractional against Ferencvaros.

And this is wherever Bentancur comes in. The Uruguayan was outstanding from the seat against Gala, helping Spurs to a foothold successful the lucifer aft helium and Dejan Kulusevski replaced wingers Heung-min Son and Johnson astatine the interval.

Bentancur was the catalyst arsenic Spurs pushed for an undeserved equaliser successful the last 20 minutes, moving the midfield against a bushed and strangely deflated Gala – who possibly sensed the crippled was won erstwhile Lankshear was shown a 2nd yellowish paper for a foul connected Gabriel Sara.

Bentancur remains successful nonstop contention with Yves Bissouma for 1 spot astatine the basal of Postecoglou's midfield but the 27-year-old has edged up of the Malian successful caller weeks, and progressively looks adjacent to returning to his superb champion aft 2 injury-hit seasons.

His poise successful possession and committedness disconnected the shot were striking against Gala, arsenic some helium and Bissouma drove Spurs guardant either broadside of Dominic Solanke's goal.

The interest for Spurs, however, is that Bentancur continues to play with the Sword of Damocles hanging implicit him.

Losing Bentancur for immoderate magnitude of clip would beryllium a stroke to Spurs fixed his quality to support the shot and surface the defence but if helium is sanctioned – which is not a certainty, to beryllium wide – Gray should beryllium well-placed to yet get an accidental successful his preferred position.

Bissouma would apt stay Postecoglou's archetypal prime astatine No6 but, similar Bentancur, Gray has the work-rate and method prime to beryllium the level for Spurs' attacks and it feels similar helium has earned the close to beryllium considered successful midfield aft a drawstring of encouraging displays.