BBC pundit slams Archie Gray after what happened in Aston Villa v Tottenham
Matthew Upson was far from pleased with Archie Gray as Tottenham suffered yet another Premier League defeat.
Spurs went to Villa Park on 16 May and returned empty-handed, losing the match 2-0.
Ezri Konsa opened the scoring for the hosts in the 59th minute and Boubacar Kamara added another in the 73rd minute to secure the three points.
Gray slammed for the concession of Kamara’s goal
Kamara received the ball on the edge of the Spurs penalty area with Morgan Rogers playing him in.
He collected it well, positioned his body to have a clear look at goal as he attempted a left-footed shot.
Gray took time to close him down and that led to the Frenchman striking the ball so cleanly into the back of the net.
Upson, a BBC pundit, said on the Premier League world feed on 16 May at 9:01pm: “Gray just does not do enough. He reacts too late and that was not good enough. You’ve got to do better there.”
Tottenham players need to improve ahead of the Europa League final
Gray’s sluggish defending in the loss to Aston Villa highlighted a critical need for improvement ahead of the Europa League final.
His tardy reaction allowed Kamara to comfortably receive, position, and strike a clean shot for Villa’s second goal, as Upson noted Gray’s failure to close down effectively.
| Statistic | Aston Villa | Tottenham Hotspur |
|---|---|---|
| Ball Possession | 68% | 32% |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.56 | 0.32 |
| Big Chances | 2 | 1 |
| Total Shots | 18 | 3 |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 1 | 5 |
| Corner Kicks | 9 | 1 |
| Fouls | 5 | 12 |
| Passes | 572 | 260 |
| Tackles | 15 | 9 |
| Free Kicks | 12 | 5 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 2 |
This lapse is particularly concerning with Manchester United’s dynamic attackers looming in the final.
United’s attackers, known for their pace, could exploit such hesitancy, potentially punishing Spurs in a high-stakes match.
Ange Postecoglou, already frustrated with his squad’s lacklustre Premier League form, will demand sharper focus and quicker decision-making from Gray and others.
With Tottenham’s defence repeatedly exposed, Gray must elevate his game to prevent United from capitalising on similar errors, ensuring Spurs remain competitive in their pursuit of European silverware.