Arsenal ended their five match winless run in the WSL with a North London Derby victory over Spurs after Alessia Russo scored the winner from the penalty spot.
Cathinka Tandberg had given the home side the lead with a header before Georgia Stanway pegged Spurs back. A second half penalty from Alessia Russo ensured the vital victory for Arsenal. Spurs were ahead of Arsenal in the table for the first time coming into this fixture but had endured back to back defeats, conceding six goals in both games. Martin Ho made three changes from the side that lost 6-2 to Chelsea last weekend, Olivia Holdt, Amanda Nildén and Ella Morris dropped out with Alice Sombath making her first start in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Caitlin Dijkstra and Eveliina Summanen also started as Spurs looked to shift to a more defensive shape. Olga Ahtinen was missing from the squad due to injury while Jess Naz returned to a match day squad for the first time this season after a long spell on the sidelines.
The Gunners came into this one on their worst run of form in WSL history, a run of five games without a win had all but ended Arsenal’s title chances in October. Arsenal were missing a number of key players, and captain Kim Little missed out due to a knock. In her pre-match press conference Renée Slegers confirmed the others out due to injury were Chloe Kelly, Mariona Caldentey, Frida Maanum, Katie Reid, Michelle Agyemang and Daphne van Domselaar. Arsenal made three changes to the starting eleven that drew 1-1 with Birmingham City, Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Taylor Hinds came into the side with Smilla Holmberg, Ona Battle and Lotte Wubben-Moy dropping to the bench.
The Lineups
TOT: Kop; Sombath, Dijkstra, Koga, Blakstad; Spence, Summanen, Pelova; Gaupset, Vinberg, Tandberg
ARS: Misa; Hinds, Catley, Williamson, Fox; Cooney-Cross, Stanway, Russo; Baum, Foord, Smith
The Action
On a wet afternoon at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Arsenal had the first real chance of the game against Spurs. Tidy interplay on the left side with Georgia Stanway and Alessia Russo played Stanway into space in behind, her shot was saved but spilled, and Lize Kop had to stretch to palm it out for a corner. However it was the home side who would take the lead from a corner, a ball expertly whipped in by Victoria Pelova was met by the head of Cathinka Tandberg who made no mistake in nodding home. Arsenal would get themselves back on level terms almost immediately against Spurs. A lovely pass from Taylor Hinds found Russo in the box and near the bye line, she held up the ball turning on it with her head up, with purpose. She cut it back to Stanway who fired a magnificent effort in off the crossbar from range. Spurs were playing a physical game, the type a derby encounter requires and picked up a couple of bookings in the first half, both Summanen and Toko Koga making themselves all too familiar with the referee’s notebook.
Arsenal started the second half with ambition in their play, shortly after kick off, Stanway played the ball wide to Foord who found space in behind. The Australian clipped it back to Russo who volleyed on goal but Kop made a fantastic save down to her right. From the resulting corner Leah Williamson stooped low to keep the ball alive from a corner, Baum fired her effort off the post from the resulting move, before the ball was cleared onto the arm of Ella Morris. Referee Phoebe Cross pointed to the spot, despite protestations from the home side. Russo stepped up and sent Kop the wrong way and Arsenal into the lead. Arsenal were having some luck on the counter attack as Spurs searched for an equaliser with chances for Baum and Smith. Spurs were unable to draw the scores level late on as Arsenal lifted their performance levels in the second period to ensure the victory.
Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings
GK: Lize Kop – 6.5/10 – Probably would have hoped to have done better on the opening goal having got a glove on the ball. She made a stunning save to deny Russo early in the second half.
RB: Alice Sombath – 6/10 – Thrown in at the deep end in her first WSL start, a North London derby against Arsenal, she was beaten by Foord a couple of times but showed her great passing range, she had to be stretchered off due to what looked like a nasty injury.
RCB: Toko Koga – 6.5/10 – Looked better in this match after two tough displays against Chelsea and London City Lionesses.
LCB: Caitlin Dijkstra – 7/10 – Made the most clearances of any player on the pitch.
LB: Julie Blakstad – 7.5/10 – Found space on the left side more than once and did extremely well to manage the threat of Baum. Had the most defensive actions of any player on the pitch.
CM: Drew Spence – 7/10 – On the day Spence made her 216th WSL appearance, drawing her level with the record, she put in a typically bullish derby day performance for her side.
CM: Eveliina Summanen – 7/10 – Brought into the line up to add a more defensive element to a team that had conceded six in each of their past two matches, she provided that for them. Played some wonderful passes in attack too.
CAM: Victoria Pelova – 8/10 – Looked up for this one from the first minute against her former club, showed excellent endeavour- her cross for the opening goal was inch-perfect. Won 11 duels, more than any other Spurs player.
RW: Matilda Vinberg – 6.5/10 – Did well to track back and support Sombath when Arsenal started to get some joy on that side.
LW: Signe Gaupset – 6.5/10 – Came back and did her defensive duties well, did not have the impact going forward that Spurs needed her to.
ST: Cathinka Tandberg – 7.5/10 – The lifelong Spurs fan scored an excellent goal beating two Arsenal defenders to the header. Struggled at times to be involved especially in long periods of Arsenal possession.
SUBS
Ella Morris (50′ Sombath) – 7/10 – Learnt a harsh lesson giving away a penalty due to an outstretched arm shortly after coming on.
Kirsty Hanson (70′ Vinberg) – 7/10 – Almost set up an equaliser after she was found making a smart run.
Shekiera Martinez (70′ Tandberg) – 5.5/10 – Late challenge on Misa was an excuse for Arsenal to waste time late on, she was caught offside multiple times when she shouldn’t have been.
Olivia Holdt (78′ Summanen) – 7/10 – Did okay when introduced off the bench, she was better defensively than she was in attack.
Olga Aitenhen (87′ Spence) – N/A –
Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Misa Rodríguez – 6.5/10 – Had relatively little to do and was let down by her defence for the goal. She was confident with punching corners clear. Made an astonishing save from Martinez late on even if it was called offside.
RB: Emily Fox – 7.5/10 – Her recovery pace was much needed against Spurs today, saved her side more than once. Beaten in the air for Spurs’ opener.
RCB: Leah Williamson – 7.5/10 – Williamson did well to best her former team mate Victoria Pelova in an early 1v1. Her stooped header at the near post to keep it alive which led to the penalty was impressive. Completed 9 out her 11 long balls.
LCB: Steph Catley – 6.5/10 – Catley’s deliveries from set piece situations were disappointing, she looked a little uneasy at times.
LB: Taylor Hinds – 8/10 – Faced up the challenge of Vinberg extremely well, played a great pass to Russo in the build up to the first goal. Bringing a natural left back into the team was massively needed for Arsenal, Hinds was brilliant.
CM: Georgia Stanway– 8/10 – One Arsenal player with zero experience of this fixture but she seemed to understand what it requires from the start. Scored an excellent goal and was involved in much of what was positive in Arsenal’s play. Lost concentration late on and allowed Kirsty Hanson in behind, lucky to get away with it.
CM: Kyra Cooney-Cross – 7.5/10 – Had some great touches, dribbled well on the ball and made a couple of excellent interceptions, also played a couple of passes in areas that she shouldn’t have. Made a wonderful seemingly game changing interception late on.
CAM: Alessia Russo – 8.5/10 – In the first thirty minutes Russo had played three key passes, at that point only five key passes had been made in the match. She missed a glorious chance before scoring from the spot right after, assisted Arenal’s equaliser too.
RW: Lisa Baum – 7/10 – Had a couple of good touches early on but a number of her early passes went awry. She worked hard and despite not always having success she was a dangerous dimension in attack for Arsenal.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 9/10 – Demonstrated a huge amount of endeavour on the left side, beat Sombath with her invention more than once. Created a wonderful opportunity for Russo. Won 16 duels, that’s more duels won than anyone else on the pitch, made more tackles than any other player and made a late tracking tackle which epitomised her afternoon.
ST: Olivia Smith – 7/10 – Worked hard up front for Arsenal but the Gunners didn’t look to find her in behind nearly enough. Played a wonderful ball into the box for Lisa Baum late on but the German couldn’t connect.
SUBS
Ona Battle (70′ Fox) – 7.5/10 – Came onto the pitch playing in her preferred right back position for the first time. Had a crucial touch in defence to deny Blakstad a great opportunity soon after being introduced.
Élisa Almeida (78′ Catley) – 6.5/10 – Did not have a huge amount to do after coming on despite the Spurs pressure, made a few positive interceptions.
Smilla Holmberg (88′ Baum) – N/A –
Stina Blackstenius (88′ Smith) – N/A –
