Tottenham look to get their first Premier League win of 2026 when they take on Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The 4-1 loss in the North London derby came as a possible reality check for Igor Tudor, who admitted that Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are in “totally different worlds”.
The big Croat has to find a winning recipe to help the Lilywhites get out of this rut. After the 4-1 humiliation at the hands of Arsenal, he will be looking for a big response from his Tottenham players against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Igor Tudor has declared that Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso are fit and will be in the squad to face Fulham. It is a massive double injury boost for Spurs at a time when their squad has been stretched to its limits in recent weeks and months. Porro and Danso’s availability should increase the numbers at the back, allowing Tudor to use Joao Palhinha in his natural role in midfield.
John Wenham expects Archie Gray to be sacrificed from the first XI vs. Fulham
Tudor has extensively used a back-three system in his managerial career, and he chose to go with the same formula against Arsenal. Archie Gray started as a right wing-back, with Djed Spence starting on the opposite end. Gray endured a difficult time as a wing-back, often getting caught out of position.
With Porro now fit and available, reputable podcast Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham thinks the Spaniard will walk straight back into the starting XI and replace Gray.
“The Arsenal game was incredibly disappointing, but when you look at in the cold, hard light of day, playing Arsenal, who are flying this season, was a tough ask for Igor Tudor,” John Wenham exclusively told Tottenham News.
“The game against Fulham comes this weekend, we do have Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso back, I fully expect both of them to go straight into the starting line-up.
“I expect we will start at Craven Cottage with Guglielmo Vicario in goal, back three probably of Danso, Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin, albeit, he has not been very impressive, but as a natural centre-back, I think he will play.
“Then you have Porro at right-wing back, Spence as left-wing back, and in midfield, you have Conor Gallagher, Joao Palhinha moves back into his natural position, and maybe Xavi Simons.
“With a two up top this time, with Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani, who was the only positive from the Arsenal game, got a good goal, dispossessing Declan Rice and finishing well.”
Gray could be an impact substitute
Gray has demonstrated his versatility by operating in different positions across the defence and midfield. As a right-sided centre-back in a three-man defence, he has looked solid. However, the Englishman struggled to impose himself against the Gunners from the wing-back position, which is quite understandable.
Porro and Danso are expected to get the nod to start on Sunday, with the former slotting in at right wing-back and the latter replacing Palhinha in a back three. Being an attack-minded full-back, Porro is always a better option to have at wing-back than Gray. Nonetheless, Gray could get minutes off the bench, either in central defence or at wing-back. Should that happen, the Englishman must look to seize that opportunity with both hands.