How old is Tottenham's starting XI?
In a season ransacked by injuries, has Ange Postecoglou stumbled across the solution to Tottenham's problems?
Against Elfsborg on Thursday, a laboured performance from players out on their feet had new life injected by three academy graduates, all of whom got on the scoresheet to fire Spurs to victory.
At the end of the game, the average age of the XI on the pitch was 22.5 (red dot in the chart below), considerably lower than Tottenham's average of 25.8 in Premier League starting line-ups this season.
Postecoglou has been forced to use his young players already this season - teenagers Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall were both brought in last summer as bright future prospects only to find themselves learning on the job as integral players over the past two months.
The average age of his team has still been slightly higher than his first season in charge (25.6) but there are still only three players over 30 in Tottenham's squad.
Indeed, if it was not for having to field 36-year-old Fraser Forster seven times, it would have been much younger.
Even so, perhaps this Europa League victory offers up an opportunity. Are the latest young players ready to step up?
Winger Damalo Ajayi put his hand up for consideration as a wide forward to sub in for injured Brennan Johnson.
Dane Scarlett has had mixed loans in the lower leagues but finally has his first goal for Tottenham. He also cannot play for another club this season so Postecoglou may as well integrate him given Richarlison and Dominic Solanke's fitness struggles.
As for 17-year-old Mikey Moore, his goal made him the youngest English player to score in major European competition.
He has only played 139 minutes in the Premier League so far for Tottenham but is banging on the manager's door for consideration.
Sunday's trip to Brentford is one of the most daunting of the season given the Bees' home record.
But Tottenham's best finishing position in the past 10 seasons came with their youngest average age (25 in 2015-16 when Spurs came second).
Perhaps that fact can be instructive.
Full commentary of Brentford v Tottenham from 14:00 GMT on Sunday on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
8 minutes ago
- Newsweek
How to Watch Andorra vs England: Live Stream FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup continue this weekend with a number of UEFA games, including this one on Saturday between Andorra and England. England currently leads Group K, putting it in position to qualify directly to the World Cup, though there's a lot of time still left to go. Andorra has lost both of its games so far. Harry Kane of England celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 European qualifier match between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on October 17, 2023 in London, England. Harry Kane of England celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 European qualifier match between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on October 17, 2023 in London, to Watch Andorra vs England Date: Satuday, June 7, 2025 Time: 11:50 AM EDT Channel: FOX Sports 2 Stream: Fubo (Try for free) In the first matchday of this group, Andorra lost 1-0 to Latvia while England won 2-0 against Albania. In the next game, Andorra was shut out again, falling 3-0 to Albania while England rolled to a 3-0 win over Latvia. England is looking to make the World Cup once again. The team has qualified for the last seven World Cups, but it last missed in 1994 when the tournament was held in the United States. The English side has won its last five matches overall, including four consecutive shut-out victories. As for Andorra, a World Cup trip feels incredibly unlikely, but weirder things have happened. The team sits just 173rd in the FIFA rankings and consistently struggles to win games, especially against strong competition like England, which has won all six previous matchups between these teams, both by shutout and multiple goals. Tune in on Saturday for this UEFA region FIFA World Cup qualifying matchup, available to stream live on Fubo. Live stream FIFA World Cup qualifying on Fubo: Start your free trial now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.


New York Times
13 minutes ago
- New York Times
Arsenal close to finalising Kepa Arrizabalaga deal
Arsenal are close to finalising a deal to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Athletic reported on June 6 that Arsenal had made Arrizabalaga their top target as they look to recruit a deputy to first-choice goalkeeper David Raya. Arsenal had previously targeted Espanyol's Joan Garcia, but Barcelona now appear favourites to sign the 24-year-old. Advertisement Arrizabalaga has a £5million ($6.77m) release clause in his Chelsea contract, which he signed before joining Bournemouth on loan for the 2024-25 season. That extension added a year onto his terms, which now run until June 2026, but also significantly reduced his salary. The Spaniard joined Chelsea for a £71.6m fee from Athletic Club in 2018 and has featured 163 times for the west London side, winning four major honours. Having made only 20 appearances during a loan spell at Real Madrid in 2023-24, Arrizabalaga established himself as Bournemouth's first-choice goalkeeper last season, following Neto's temporary switch to Arsenal. The 30-year-old kept nine clean sheets in 35 games for Bournemouth in 2024-25, as Andoni Iraola's side registered the joint sixth-best defensive record in the Premier League. Arsenal recruited Neto from Bournemouth on deadline day in August 2024 after allowing Aaron Ramsdale to join Southampton. The 35-year-old Brazilian returned to Bournemouth at the end of his loan deal. Analysis by Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas Arsenal's staff are long-time admirers of Arrizabalaga, and this is not the first time his name has been raised in recruitment conversations at the club. The affordable price means Arrizabalaga was expected to have various options this summer. Arsenal already have an established No 1 in 29-year-old Raya. Arrizabalaga understands the existing hierarchy at Arsenal, after Raya's strong performance in 2024-25, but is willing to fight for his place in north London. Arsenal believe Arrizabalaga has shown in spells at Chelsea and Real Madrid that he has the attitude and professionalism to support a No 1, having acted at times as understudy to Edouard Mendy at the former and Andriy Lunin at the latter. Additional reporting: Jordan Campbell and Dan Sheldon ()
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tottenham: Harry Redknapp 'not writing off' Mauricio Pochettino return after Ange Postecoglou sacking
Ex-Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said that the club's decision to sack Ange Postecoglou did not surprise him in the slightest and would not write off a return for Mauricio Pochettino. Redknapp, who managed Spurs from 2008 to 2012, said that Postecoglou's dismissal was 'harsh', but did concede that the north Londoners had been 'atrocious' this term. Advertisement Spurs won the Europa League, qualifying for next season's Champions League in the process, but it was their 17th-placed finish in the Premier League table that was the final straw for Daniel Levy. Postecoglou had delivered Spurs' first piece of silverware since the League Cup in 2008, and their first European crown in 41 years. However, Redknapp noted one particular factor that made him realise that the Australian's time was up. 'I thought it was a certainty, doesn't shock me at all,' Redknapp said of Postecoglou's sacking. 'Daniel has had two weeks after the cup final to come out and stop the speculation, from day one after they won that cup he never came out. Advertisement "All Daniel had to say was, no, he's our manager. He's here. We're looking forward to next season, but he didn't say a word. 'I knew then for sure he was finished, so it's not a shock in any shape or form to me. It was obvious he was going and [the final] made up Daniel's mind. "It wasn't the best game, it was two poor sides and I think, given their position in the table, Daniel would have made up his mind long before the final that he was going." Serial winner: Ange Postecoglou (Getty Images) Redknapp had thought that the Europa League trophy could have been Postecoglou's saving grace, but he accepted that Spurs' league form - where they lost 22 of 38 games - was unacceptable. Advertisement 'It's harsh, it's a difficult one,' he said. 'They were atrocious this season. 'The league form, fourth from bottom, they had a shocker, they won the cup, sometimes you get a bit of luck with the draw. 'But Daniel has looked at it and is thinking, 'hang on, Man United kept [Erik] Ten Hag last year after winning a cup and they went out and bought some players under his leadership and then suddenly they sacked him. 'Were they going to take that chance with Ange? Bringing four or five new players and suddenly things haven't improved in the league by Christmas, then they have to sack him and are stuck with the players he brought in. Advertisement 'He looks a good guy and I'd have liked to have seen him given more of a chance but it was never going to happen once Daniel didn't come out and support him.' The league form, fourth from bottom, they had a shocker, they won the cup, sometimes you get a bit of luck with the draw Harry Redknapp Looking ahead to who could replace Postecoglou in the dugout, Thomas Frank, the Brentford boss, is the frontrunner, according to reports. Redknapp said that the project at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would be an attractive one for a lot of top coaches. "It's a great job for someone," he said.. "I know they finished fourth from bottom in the Premier League, but they won a trophy this year, they're in the Champions League next year. Advertisement "Let's not kid ourselves. Tottenham is a big club. The training facilities are out of this world. The stadium is probably the best stadium in the world now. "What a job for somebody. They've got a good squad. When they're all fit and playing, they've got 20-odd players there that are very, very good players. Some good young players, too, the kids who have come through this year look very good. 'There'll be an awful lot of people who would love that opportunity to manage Tottenham for sure, and Frank at Brentford is a big odds-on favourite. "Even Mauricio Pochettino - a friend of mine rang me and said, you know, what about Pochettino going back there? It's possible. I wouldn't write him off. Naturally, I'd be pleased."