Gray is expected to feature against his boyhood club when Spurs visit Elland Road on Saturday, having established himself as an important member of Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
The 20-year-old was an unused substitute for both meetings between the clubs last season, but his involvement has increased considerably this term. He has started nine times already, scored his first goal of the campaign against Crystal Palace last weekend and wore the captain’s armband on the opening day.
Farke, who gave Gray his senior debut at Leeds, saw the qualities that have helped him progress at Tottenham while the midfielder was still a teenager.
Gray had first entered the first-team picture under Marcelo Bielsa, making the bench at just 15, but it was under Farke that he made his senior debut and became a regular. He went on to make 52 appearances during that season, including 40 Championship starts, as the manager placed considerable responsibility on a player still developing physically.
Farke recalled the decision to select Gray ahead of experienced figures in the Leeds dressing room, including club stalwart Luke Ayling.
“It was early to see. When he came through at the age of 17, I've replaced my vice-captain, our club legend Luke Ayling. This was not an easy decision. It was not easy for the dressing room. I came in as the new coach and I've got a club legend and he was on the bench because I played Archie, a 17-year-old kid,” he said.
“But Archie had already at this age more or less this mentality and the quality. He was from a different drawer. And the same when I played him in midfield, left the experienced players like Glenn Kamara, for example, out in his position.
“It's just due to the quality and the mentality that Archie had. He was ready and prepared to play on Championship level.”
Gray's maturity was reflected in the responsibility he was given at Leeds, and Farke believes his progress at Tottenham has demonstrated that those qualities have translated to the Premier League.
“I think he has also worn the captain's armband for Tottenham on Premier League level. It says a lot about him. You need this quality mentality if you want to be there as a young player already with so many games on this level.”
De Zerbi has also been impressed by the midfielder's development, even though he substituted him at half-time against Crystal Palace last weekend.
The Spurs manager explained that the decision was prompted by Gray's yellow card and the risk of him being sent off, rather than dissatisfaction with his performance.
“I'm sorry, because he was playing very well,” De Zerbi said.
“I explained why I took the decision, but I think it was the right decision in that moment. He's improving a lot. After the game against Manchester United, he's playing very, very well, as a mature player.”
Gray's return to Elland Road will therefore offer a reminder of the faith Farke placed in him during his breakthrough season. Leeds supporters know the midfielder's story, but his growing influence in north London is evidence of just how far that early promise has taken him.