Lize Kop stars as North London Derby shares spoiled
A string of super saves from Lize Kop saw Tottenham and Arsenal share the spoils in a rare 0-0 draw for both sides infront of a 6,788 record attendance at Brisbane Road.
Martin Ho named an unchanged side from Spurs’ 4-2 defeat to London City last time out, with Olivia Holdt looking to add to her six goal contributions already this season. Renée Slegers gave a rare start to Kyra Cooney Cross in the midfield, and once again opted for the tried and tested Stina Blackstenius and Alessia Russo pairing up front.
Arsenal got us underway, backed by, as ever a loud and veriferous travelling contingent in East London with Caitlin Foord seeing plenty of the ball and possession early on, with the impressive defensive duo of Toko Koga and Clare Hunt having tlo be alert to clear a few Arsenal crosses early on. It was fairly noticeable in the first ten minutes, how Spurs planned to nullify Arsenal, with Jess Naz and Matilda Vinberg dropping back in to help their respective fullbacks and effectively make a back six. Lize Kop[ was tested for the first time as the clock hit double digits, catching a stinging Arsenal effort from Emily Fox.
Spurs broke at sheer pace down the right, with Ashleigh Neville feeding Jess Naz who, without looking up fired a teasing ball across the box, but nobody in Spurs white was able to get a touch and Arsenal escaped unblemished. Arsenal came forward with Katie McCabe facing up Naz, pulling the ball across which was cleared only to Kyra Cooney Cross who lashed an effort over.
Spurs were playing themselves into trouble out the back which was nearly pounced upon by Mariona Caldentey, but she tried to pick out Alessia Russo instead of pulling the trigger and Spurs were able to clear. Both sides momentarily went down to ten, after a clash of heads between Hunt and Steph Catley, but both were given the okay to continue soon after.
Stina Blackstenius was next to test Lize Kop, but her looping header did little to trouble the Dutch stopper, who had to be alert again to punch a enticing cross away from the next attack. Olivia Holdt then did her best to release a Spurs counter, but Arsenal regianed possession in the defensive third and the ball found it’s way to Blackstenius who chopped in and out, before being denied by Kop. Katie McCabe was the first name in the referees notebook, picking up a yellow for stopping Hodt’s purposeful run, Arsenal wre given one final chance to score in the first half following a dubious free kick, but Beth Mead’s effort hit the wall and that was that for the first half.
HT - Spurs 0-0 Arsenal
Two half time changes for Arsenal, with Taylor Hinds on for Katie McCabe, and Olivia Smith entered for Beth Mead as the second half got underway Tõko Koga wanted to pick up the fight and take it to Arsenal, winning the ball back on halfway and driving forward before picking out Naz, who’s cross was well blocked.
Olivia Smith was straight into the action, giving Nildèn a torrid time twice in quick succession by driving at the fullback and pulling it across, with Blackstenius failing to get a proper connection on the first and Spurs clearing the second well. Slegers turned to her bench again, bringing on Frida Maanum for Stina Blackstenius.
A purposeful drive forward from Lotte Wubben Moy just past the hour saw her feed the ball into Russo, who tee’d up Smith, with Kop launching a strong hand to deny the forward as the visitors were turning the screw. Martin Ho responded with a change up front, as Bethany England came on for Cathinka Tandberg, looking to alter the forward phase in Spurs’ favour.
Frida Maanum had two efforts blocked as Spurs retreated deeper, having not yet han an effort on goal as we ticked towards the 70th minute. A rare Spurs foray forward was met with once again a lack of quality and Arsenal cleared away easily. Spurs did rally and press well shortly after, with Olivia Holdt seeing a shot blocked before two changes saw Summanen and Vinberg replaced by Olga Ahtinen and Martha Thomas, the latter still searching for her first league goal since that famous one against Arsenal two years ago.
The wind seemed to pick up as we headed into the final ten, perhaps sensing what a big final ten minutes this could be for both sides, with Martha Thomas collecting a yellow card for a foul on Emily Fox. Caitlin Foord was then replaced by Chloe Kelly with a little under five minutes left and Lenna Gunning-Williams came on for Holdt.
Five additional minutes were signalled as the Spurs fans raised their voices in recognition with a resolute defensive performance. Spurs upped the ante in added time, with Thomas engineering a shooting chance well but firing over the bar. Added time passed without event as Spurs and Arsenal played out a rare goaless draw.
FT - Spurs 0-0 Arsenal