Arsenal Finally Get Back to Winning Ways with Narrow 2-1 Victory in the North London Derby

The North London Derby is always one of the most anticipated occasions in the WSL calendar, but with Tottenham sitting 5 places above Arsenal in the table, this year it seemed to be more monumental than ever. With ongoing discussion about Renée Sleger’s position as Arsenal manager, and Tottenham having conceded 12 goals in their last two matches, the game felt impossible to call.

Arsenal’s sold out away allocation brought their full support, scarves waving and a performance of ‘North London Forever’ echoing around the stadium clashing with the chants of Tottenham fans. The gravity of the occasion was felt on the pitch also, as Arsenal seemed to ramp up their attacking potency in correlation with the passion of the rivalry, and Spurs finding a composed determination on both sides of the pitch. 

However, in the end it was Arsenal who came out on top, after fighting back against Spurs’ opener, and being awarded a somewhat controversial penalty, getting their first three points in the WSL since opening weekend. They might not have proven themselves to be back in form quite yet, but finding a way to win the game clearly meant everything, with Williamson running to the deafening away section after the full-time whistle.

Starting XIs:

Tottenham Hotspur: Lize Kop (GK), Caitlin Dijkstra, Alice Sombath, Signe Gaupset, Cathinka Tandberg, Victoria Pelova, Drew Spence ©, Evaliina Summanen, Tōko Koga, Julie Blackstad

Substitutes: Selma Panengstuen (GK), Ella Morris, Amanda Nildén, Jessica Naz, Olivia Holdt, Matilda Nildén, Kirsty Hanson, Lenna Gunning-Williams, Shekierra Martinez

Arsenal: Misa Rodríguez (GK), Emily Fox, Georgia Stanway, Leah Williamson ©, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Olivia Smith, Lisa Baum, Alessia Russo, Taylor Hinds, Kyra Cooney-Cross

Substitutes: Daphne van Domselaar (GK), Anneke Borbe (GK), Lotte Wubben-Moy, Élisa De Almeida, Géraldine Reuteler, Ona Batlle, Stina Blackstenius, Smilla Holmberg

All to Play For After a Level First Half

Pelova started the game as an immediate and intense threat to her old team, making runs upfront and intercepting Arsenal’s struggling passes in their half. She took Spurs’ first corner in the 5th minute, short to Vindberg, before pelting its way down to pitch after Arsenal were the ones to control the direction of the ball from the box. They then earnt themselves a corner in turn after Kop made a scrambling save from Stanway’s shot, and a few minutes later a free kick taken by Olivia Smith, but neither set piece found its way to break through Tottenham’s calm and collected defence.

Arsenal’s unsettled nature on the pitch was capitalized on again by Pelova, when after a great run, she took the corner earnt by Spurs’ pushing efforts, which was headed in perfectly by their number 9 Cathinka Tandberg, giving Tottenham the lead in the 13th minute of the game. 

However, Arsenal struck back quickly, with Stanway curling in a ball gifted by Russo from the edge of the penalty area into the roof of the net just four minutes later, putting the teams back level with a chance taken from further out, which is perhaps what Arsenal have been missing in their scoring attempts this season. A foul by Summanen on Stanway earnt them another free kick to be taken by Olivia Smith, but it was punched away by Lize Kop. 

Arsenal’s defence managed to clear away the ball from Spurs' box, but their shaky defense led to disorganised efforts at recovery further down the pitch, and the ball was often finding its way back to Spurs’ feet again. A striking effort from Pelova from range in the 32nd minute sailed over the crossbar, after Arsenal delayed themselves in calling for a foul on Olivia Smith, and the Gunners were lucky not to be caught short not getting their defenders down to the goal quickly enough.

Drew Spence’s tackle on Taylor Hinds in the 34th minute stopped Arsenal from finding another after shooting up the wing, with Spurs’ backline doing well to thwart their attempts to get in the right positions in front of goal. Foord had an effort from the left in the 40th minute, but it was Spence again who blocked it, putting in a real shift as Arsenal upped the intensity before half-time. 

Summanen was booked in the 42nd minute for a foul on Stanway, as Spurs’ physicality gave Arsenal another free kick on the opposing half, and Olivia Smith got dangerously close to goal before the ball was hastily collected by Lize Kop. An Arsenal corner in the 44th minute taken by Catley was again collected by Kop, suddenly being kept busy by Arsenal’s frontline. One minute of added time however was not enough for the Gunners to find a breakthrough, as Spurs’ defence played resolutely to keep their attempts at bay, and Spurs continued to look more comfortable regardless of their position on the pitch.

Half time: Tottenham 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal Find a Way in Second Half with Russo Penalty

The second-half opened with a further series of defensive actions by Tottenham, with a tackle from Spence stopping Stanway in her tracks, before Olivia Smith was halted directly in front of goal by Koga. To much concern, Alice Sombath was stretchered off shortly after, clutching her knee in tears, and was replaced by Ella Morris.

A cross from Baum in the 51st minute was collected with ease by Kop, and Tottenham found themselves a golden chance moments later, with the ball finding Vindberg in miles of space, but difficulties with positioning and passing wasted the opportunity.

Arsenal’s frustration came next, with Foord to the left, laying off the ball beautifully to Russo, but her shot was met with a stunning save by Kop. It went behind for a corner, taken by Cooney Cross, and Baum had another agonisingly close attempt, hitting the post. However, Arsenal’s luck turned when they were given a penalty after Ella Morris was seen to have had a hand ball after a clearance hit her hand. The call was certainly disputable, as the deflection came off her teammate Tandberg, but an outstretched arm led to the referee making the penalty call. It was taken by Russo, and tucked away neatly into the bottom left of the goal before she went running to the away fans, waving their scarves in delight, her missed chance seeming all forgotten now.

Spurs looked desperate for an equaliser, with the ball bouncing round the box as they continued to push, resulting in a series of throw-ins that seemed all to end with Arsenal on the ball. On the other end of the pitch, Russo had a go, another from range, but it found Kop’s hands. Smith was inches away from Kop moments later after a risky pass almost gifted them a goal, but Kop managed to clear it away before the mistake was punished.

Tottenham finally had a real opportunity in the 66th minute, with a foul on Tandberg by Stanway earning them a free-kick, and Stanway a yellow card. It was taken by Vindberg, before being cleared away by Williamson before it had the chance to find a Spurs head. A cross from Pelova did find Signe Gaupset’s head in the 69th minute, but the ball was collected by Misa Rodríguez.

Tandberg and Vinberg were then taken off for Martinez and Hanson in an attempt to inject some energy into their front line, whilst Arsenal looked to keep their defence fresh by replacing Emily Fox with Ona Batlle in the 70th minute.

Hanson looked to be make a real difference from the moment she stepped up the pitch, making an excellent run up the right and earning Tottenham the throw-in after being tackled. A Spurs corner in the 73rd minute was punched behind by Misa Rodríguez for another, and Spence almost had a great shot, before a crowded box led her to collide with teammate Hanson. 

Olivia Smith then found the ball to the left of Spurs’ goal, and attempted to get the ball to Baum in front of it, who just could not control it, and missed one of the best opportunities of the game. There was more frustration for Smith minutes later, who could not get to the ball in front of an empty goal before it was collected by Kop. More substitutions came in the 77th minute, Catley was taken off for De Almeida, and for Spurs it was Summanen off for Holdt. Earlier substitute Martinez earnt her team a corner after darting down the wing, but it ended up being fed down to Arsenal in Spurs’ half again.

Spurs came unbelievably close in the 81st minute, when Kirsty Hanson crossed the ball to Martinez right in front of goal, who just overshot over the bar, as they both held their heads in frustration. Smith and Baum were taken off for Blackstenius and Holmberg in the 87th minute, and 7 minutes of added time was announced. Arsenal were the ones to really push in this added time, looking hungry for another before the whistle, with Tottenham struggling to get a substantial hold on the ball. A cross by Pelova to Martinez in the 95th minute looked like it might be a last chance, but Cooney-Cross managed to block the shot and give the ball back to Rodríguez for a goal-kick. Tottenham ended their game with a booking for Gaupset and a free kick for a foul on Stanway, which might not have been scored, but certainly denied Spurs their chance to equalise.

Full time: Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal