An Alessia Russo hat-trick ensured Arsenal climbed to second in the Barclays Women’s Super League table after an emphatic 5-2 victory over rivals Spurs.
Arsenal started the North London Derby with their tails up and Alessia Russo was leading the pack by example, scoring twice in the first seven minutes. Tottenham Hotspur struck back through an own goal by Frida Maanum but Russo would not be denied her hat-trick capitalising on an error from Lize Kop. Caitlin Foord added a fourth after half time before Beth England struck back for Spurs. As Spurs pushed, Stina Blackstenius scored to end the match as a contest.
Tottenham Hotspur came into this one having only ever scored one in the WSL away to Arsenal, and never before at the Emirates. Arsenal managed the absence of their Asia Cup players better than their North London rivals had, but both sides restored most of their Asia Cup players to the starting line up where possible. Arsenal brought Steph Catley into defence in place of Laia Codina while Spurs brought Toko Koga in at centre back and Maiko Hamano joined her in the side. Caitlin Foord started on the bench for Arsenal while Clare Hunt was missing through injury for Spurs. Julie Blakstad and Beth England were dropped to the bench after a 5-2 defeat to Manchester City last week to make way for Spurs’ returning Asia Cup champions.
Smilla Holmberg kept her place in the starting eleven after two assists against West Ham last weekend. Daphne van Domselaar returned to the starting eleven for the first time since February. Kim Little started in her first match since extending her contract at the club for another season. Spurs also made two key contract extensions this week, the first was for head coach Martin Ho and the second was for star player Olivia Holdt.
Arsenal came into this one knowing that victory would move the Gunners up into second place after Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to City earlier on Saturday.
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The Lineups
ARS: van Domselaar; McCabe, Catley, Wubben-Moy, Holmberg; Little, Caldentey, Maanum; Smith, Kelly, Russo
TOT: Kop; A. Nildén, Bartrip, Koga, Wijk; Spence, Holdt, Gaupset; Hamano, Vinberg, Tandberg
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The Action
Arsenal seemed in the mood from the off with a number of swift attacks within the first couple of minutes leading to blocked efforts on goal. Within the first five minutes Arsenal had the lead, Katie McCabe swung a cross into the box and Russo evaded her marker to nod home. Ringing around the Emirates sounded a familiar cry, 1-0 to the Arsenal. The Arsenal faithful would not sing it for long, as Olivia Smith played Russo through on goal after Amanda Nildén played Russo onside. Russo rounded the keeper and found the far corner with a smart finish, 2-0 to Arsenal.
Spurs gained a little of their confidence back when Maika Hamano almost broke through the Arsenal defence with only a Kim Little sliding challenge preventing her from advancing on goal. Martin Ho’s charges would pull one back before the 20th minute as a breathless half of football continued to deliver. A corner whipped into the box by Hamano was flicked on at the near post by Nildén and an unfortunate Frida Maanum, off balance, directed the ball into her own net with her head.
Just as Spurs were enjoying their brightest period in the match, they gifted Arsenal back their two goal cushion. Molly Bartrip played the ball back to Kop who carelessly passed straight to Russo, who swivelled and fired past the keeper to complete her hat trick. After a quiet start to the second half, with both sides largely cancelling each other out, Holmberg whipped a ball to the back post. Caitlin Foord, introduced off the bench, took the ball down and fired into the back of the net for 4-1.
Spurs captain Beth England almost pulled a goal back with a superb header only moments after coming on but Van Domselaar clawed the ball behind. At the other end Kop demonstrated some heroics of her own tipping McCabe’s free kick onto the cross bar. However Spurs did pull a goal back with just over ten minutes to play after great interplay between Matilda Vinberg and England, saw the Swede lay the ball off to the Spurs captain whose fizzing shot slipped through the hands of van Domselaar. Arsenal had the last derby day laugh though, as substitute Stina Blackstenius was played through by Victoria Pelova and finished past Kop.
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Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Daphne van Domselaar – 6.5/10 – Had very little to do on her return to the starting line up aside from an unbelievable save from a Beth England header. Should have done better with England’s goal.
RB: Smilla Holmberg – 7.5/10 – Supported the attack well and provided an excellent deep and swinging cross into the box for Caitlin Foord to finish.
RCB: Lotte Wubben-Moy – 8/10 – Wubben-Moy made a good early challenge when Spurs threatened to gain momentum. Wubben-Moy’s long balls were causing the visitors all kinds of problems in defence.
LCB: Steph Catley – 7.5/10 – A seamless return to the starting eleven for Catley.
LB: Katie McCabe – 8.5/10 – Assisted the opening goal with an inch perfect cross for Russo to finish, was the only player on the pitch to complete three key passes.
CM: Kim Little – 7.5/10 – Little made her 405th appearance for Arsenal and won more duels than any other player on the pitch. An exceptional sliding challenge on Hamano when the on loan attacking midfielder threatened to break away clean through on goal epitomised more than just her afternoon’s work.
CM: Mariona Caldentey – 7.5/10 – Her excellent work in the midfield can almost go unnoticed at times but her and Little’s partnership in the middle is one of the most effective double pivots in Europe right now.
CAM: Frida Maanum – 7/10 – Scored an unfortunate own goal but made two key passes in the match only McCabe made more.
RW: Olivia Smith – 7.5/10 – An excellent through ball from Smith split Spurs open and set up Arsenal’s second. Came off at half time presumably to be rested for Chelsea in midweek.
LW: Chloe Kelly – 6.5/10 – Switched wings with Olivia Smith at will and to the confusion of the Spurs backline.
ST: Alessia Russo – 10/10 – Russo had the bit between her teeth from the off, two goals in under seven minutes stunned Spurs and set the tone of Arsenal dominance from which the match would rarely waiver. Completed her hat trick by pouncing on an error from Kop.
SUBS
Caitlin Foord (46′ Smith) – 8/10 – Came off the bench to score what felt like a much needed goal for her confidence.
Beth Mead (55′ Kelly) – 7/10 – Provided a couple of positive touches and ensured Arsenal stayed in the lead.
Stina Blackstenius (55′ Russo) – 7.5/10 – Made her 150th appearance for Arsenal, had the impact she inevitably has on a stretched match and found the back of the net.
Victoria Pelova (71′ Caldentey) – 7/10 – Came on and drove with the ball more than once, set up Blackstenius for an emphatic fifth has stepped up since being given a bigger role in the squad.
Laia Codina (87′ Little) – N/A –
Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings
GK: Lize Kop – 5/10 – Gave the ball away early on with a loose pass. Made an excellent save to deny Russo her hat-trick after only 15 minutes. Made an awful error to gift Arsenal back their two goal cushion just as her side were gaining momentum.
RB: Hannah Wijk – 7/10 – Despite the struggles of her defence Wijk impressed at times, made more key passes than any other Spurs player that started.
RCB: Toko Koga – 6/10 – Looked tired after her Asia Cup exploits, struggled to play at her usual high standard.
LCB: Molly Bartrip – 6/10 – Blocked more shots than any other player on the pitch, it was a difficult day for the player who began the match as captain however.
LB: Amanda Nildén – 6/10 – Completely switched off for Arsenal’s second goal, playing Russo onside. Her header at the near post to keep the ball in play for Spurs’ goal was smart.
CM: Drew Spence – 7/10 – Helped break up play in the second half with the joint most tackles in the match and the most defensive actions.
CM: Signe Gaupset – 6.5/10 – Her driving runs from deep helped give Spurs territory in their most difficult moments in this match.
CAM: Olivia Holdt – 6/10 – Rarely got on the ball to exert her usual influence, came off in the second half looking to be carrying a knock.
RW: Maika Hamano – 6/10 – Often was at the heart of positive attacking actions for Spurs these were all too seldom however.
LW: Matilda Vinberg – 7/10 – Composed performance, she set up Beth England’s goal with an excellent deft touch.
ST: Cathinka Tandberg – 6.5/10 – Always a presence in the box and helped force Spurs’ first goal.
SUBS
Julie Blakstad (61′ Holdt) – 7/10 – Helped solidify Spurs at the back and going forward after coming on.
Beth England (72′ Tandberg) – 8/10 – Almost made an instant impact after coming off the bench, will scarcely believe she didn’t score when her header looked destined for the net. She ensured she did score only minutes later.
Eveliina Summanen (72′ Hamano) – 8/10 – Came on and made an instant impact in a less obvious way than the captain. Had two key passes within the first few minutes of being on, no other Spurs player had more across the full 90.
Lena Gunning Williams (87′ Wijk) – N/A –
Olgha Aitenhen (87′ Spence) – N/A –
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Alessia Russo