Having stunned Chelsea at Emirates Stadium last weekend to move level on points with Emma Hayes’ side at the top of the Barclays Women’s Super League table, Jonas Eidevall’s Arsenal headed across North London on Saturday to face a Tottenham side in indifferent form as of late.
TOT: Votiková; Neville, Bartrip, Bühler, James; Clinton, Graham, Petzelberger, Bizet Ildhusøy; England, Thomas
ARS: Zinsberger; Catley, Wubben-Moy, Ilestedt, McCabe; Wälti, Pelova; Foord, Maanum, Mead; Russo
With the opportunity to take the helm of the WSL table, at least until Bristol City host Chelsea on Sunday, Arsenal’s sluggish start to life in North London would certainly look to make the task difficult.
The Gunners didn’t record a shot on target until three minutes before the break, when Frida Maanum picked out the gloves of Barbora Votiková to bring an end to an underwhelming first half of action at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
But despite looking far from the dominant Arsenal side we’ve grown accustomed to seeing, Jonas Eidevall’s side always looked to be on top – and that continued in the second half, but in front of goal, Alessia Russo and Frida Maanum both blazed efforts off-target.
Capitalising on the visitors’ inability to find the back of the net, Spurs took the lead just before the hour mark when Celin Bizet Ildhusøy’s cross was slammed into the back of the net by a sliding Martha Thomas.
Embed from Getty ImagesEven a cameo appearance from the returning Vivianne Miedema could not salvage anything for Eidevall’s side, despite seeing out the final 25 minutes with a remarkable front three consisting of the Dutch international, Beth Mead and Alessia Russo.
Arsenal fall to their first-ever defeat in the WSL North London Derby, meaning that while they remain level on points with Chelsea for the time being, that could all change when Emma Hayes’ side head to 11th-place Bristol City on Sunday.
Picking up their first league win since October 21st, Robert Vilahamn’s Tottenham remain in sixth. They do, however, move themselves to within three points of Manchester United, with the Red Devils set to face Liverpool on Sunday.
