Archie Gray became the youngest Englishman to score a Premier League goal for Tottenham since Dele Alli in January 2016

Archie Gray’s First Goal Lifts Spurs Past Crystal Palace

Archie Gray’s First Senior Goal Hands Spurs Vital Win at Selhurst Park

Archie Gray’s maiden senior goal was enough to earn Tottenham Hotspur a narrow but much-needed 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, as Thomas Frank’s side ended 2025 on a positive note.

The 19-year-old midfielder showed composure and positional instinct to finish from close range after a scrappy corner sequence in the 42nd minute — punishing Palace’s failure to clear their lines.

First-Half Strike Seals the Deal

Tottenham’s breakthrough came just before half-time. A Pedro Porro corner found Randal Kolo Muani, whose flick was contested by Richarlison before Gray swept the loose ball in from close range — his first-ever senior goal.

Palace had dominated much of the first half, with Jean-Philippe Mateta causing problems but missing two clear chances — one narrowly wide and one headed over from six yards.

VAR Drama and Disallowed Goals

Richarlison thought he had added a second on two occasions, but both goals were chalked off by VAR:

The first ruled out due to Lucas Bergvall being offside in the buildup.
The second after Richarlison strayed marginally offside while meeting a cross from Mohammed Kudus.

Spurs also went close through Wilson Odobert, whose strike hit the post as they searched for a second to kill the game off.

Tottenham Grit Shows Promise

It wasn’t a pretty win, but it was a gritty and determined performance from Spurs who had failed to win in their last eight matches.

Manager Thomas Frank, under pressure after an inconsistent first half of the campaign, will take confidence from the fighting spirit on display.

“This is a platform,” said Frank. “We dug in, defended well, and finally got rewarded.”

The win lifts Tottenham to 11th in the Premier League, one point behind Palace in ninth.

Crystal Palace Lose Third in a Row

Oliver Glasner’s side appeared to suffer from fatigue after a heavy festive fixture list. Though they registered 15 shots, Palace failed to land a single one on target in the second half — a stat that highlights their creative struggles.

Set-piece frailties once again cost Palace dearly. The club has now conceded eight of their last nine goals from set plays.