The 4-1 scoreline in the north London derby gave Tottenham fans little to celebrate, but new fan footage has provided a rare moment of solace.
Despite the heavy defeat to Arsenal, 19-year-old Archie Gray has endeared himself to Spurs fans with his raw passion and defiance after his crucial first-half equalizer.
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Archie Gray fires the ball at Arsenal supporters
The footage, which quickly went viral on social media, captures Gray’s immediate reaction to Randal Kolo Muani’s shot that briefly tied the game at 1-1.
The youngster was seen furiously kicking the ball into an area of celebrating Arsenal supporters on the away side.
The video shows Gray violently hitting the ball at an Arsenal fan.
The Arsenal fan in the video appeared to be furious with the teenager and enjoying himself. Supporters have taken to social media to call for the player to be suspended for his actions.
But for Tottenham supporters, the move has been hailed as a sign of a player who truly understands the weight of the rivalry.
Gray had a tough time against Victor Gokeres.
Despite the high-profile moment, it was a tough afternoon on the pitch for Gray. Playing a hybrid role, the teenager struggled to contain the physicality and movement of Arsenal’s attackers, particularly Victor Gokeres.
The Swedish striker, who scored twice, took advantage of the youngster’s lack of experience at elite level and frequently targeted Gray’s side of the pitch.
For Gokeres’ second goal, he easily outran the youngster before slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.
But if the fan reaction was anything to go by, it’s that Gray’s “Derby Fire” earned him plenty of applause, with a fan base yearning for players to play with passion.
