FROM EMIRATES STADIUM – Alessia Russo scored the one aim of the sport as Arsenal boosted their Girls’s Tremendous League title hopes with a 1-0 win over Tottenham within the north London derby on Sunday in entrance of a sell-out Emirates Stadium crowd.
Looking for revenge after Spurs earned their first ever derby victory within the reverse fixture, the Gunners have been wasteful throughout a irritating first half earlier than a half-time reset helped Russo nick the opener simply 4 minutes into the second half.
The 60,050 followers in attendance helped Arsenal set a brand new WSL attendance file, surpassing the 59,042 supporters who watched the 3-1 success over Man Utd in mid-February.
Jonas Eidevall’s aspect have now received their final seven consecutive WSL dwelling video games, the primary time they’ve accomplish that within the competitors, and stay simply three factors behind leaders Manchester Metropolis of their seek for a primary league title since 2019.
How the sport unfolded
It was a narrative of squandered possibilities within the first half for Arsenal. Regardless of dominating in all areas with 63% possession, 9 photographs and ten corners, it was a wasteful begin for the Gunners.
Tottenham had their first actual probability 24 minutes in as Jessica Naz, who discovered loads of pleasure utilizing her tempo on the break, pressured goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger to tip her lofted shot onto the crossbar and out of harms approach.
Caitlin Foord, who solely returned from Australia a number of days in the past, was proving to be Arsenal’s largest attacking menace along with her tenacity and astute passing inflicting issues for Tottenham’s defence. Nevertheless, a scarcity of medical ending left the winger pissed off.
Having spent a lot of her profession as a centre-forward earlier than shifting to the wing, it is no shock Beth Mead is famend as one in every of Arsenal’s and the WSL’s most instinctive finishers. Nevertheless, she struggled to provide the magic Gunners followers are accustomed to seeing through the first half.
The England worldwide did play a pivotal function in what turned out to be the successful aim.
No matter was stated at half-time clearly paid off as a diagonal go from skipper Kim Little expertly picked out Mead, who did not get her shot away. Nevertheless, compatriot Russo was there to bury the rebound and hand Arsenal the lead simply 4 minutes into the second half.
Tottenham struggled to discover a approach again into the sport as Arsenal saved their guests on the again foot whereas sustaining their one-goal cushion to see out a vital win.
GK: Manuela Zinsberger – 6/10 – Had little to do however saved a clear sheet and was a assured presence.
RB: Katie McCabe – 7/10 – Tenacious and bold on the again however lacked some finish product going ahead.
CB: Laia Codina – 6/10 – Struggled whereas monitoring again in opposition to the tempo of Spurs’ press and regarded a bit of rocky. Grew into the sport earlier than being taken off.
CB: Lotte Wubben-Moy – 8/10 – Instinctive and managed, main the backline with aplomb.
LB: Steph Catley – 7/10 – Tenacious in possession and on the break. Linked up extremely nicely with compatriot Foord to trigger Spurs loads of points.
CM: Lia Walti – 8/10 – Dominated midfield and orchestrated the tempo all through. Arsenal would have been in large bother if not for the Swiss captain’s very important interventions.
CM: Victoria Pelova – 7/10 – Was carrying a knock and operated a bit of extra gingerly consequently, however the Dutch worldwide was nonetheless spectacular.
RW: Beth Mead – 7/10 – Unable to conjure up any instinctive magic followers have grow to be accustomed to, being let down by a scarcity of medical ending. Nonetheless dominated the best flank and helped arrange the winner.
AM: Kim Little – 8/10 – The stalwart chief saved Arsenal one step forward all through proceedings along with her correct passing and astute information of the sport.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 8/10 – Proved to be Arsenal’s most complete attacking menace but lacked a managed finish product to match her flurry of possibilities.
ST: Alessia Russo – 7/10 – Discovered herself in the best place on the proper time to web the winner but in addition missed a number of possibilities a striker of her calibre ought to have buried.
Substitutes
SUB: Kyra Cooney-Cross (72′ for Pelova) – 7/10
SUB: Stina Blackstenius (72′ for Russo) – 7/10
SUB: Leah Williamson (72′ for Codina) – 7/10
SUB: Frida Maanum (84′ for Foord) – 6/10
Unused subs: Naomi Williams (GK), Sarah Bouhaddi (GK), Vivienne Lia, Madison Earl, Katie Reid.
Supervisor
Jonas Eidevall – 7/10 – Needed to take care of a threadbare matchday squad however nonetheless managed to place out a crew sturdy sufficient to topple Spurs.
GK: Becky Spencer – 6/10 – Made some impeccable saves however was denied a clear sheet.
RB: Ashleigh Neville – 7/10 – Brought about Foord issues on the wing however struggled in opposition to Catley on the overlap.
CB: Amy James-Turner – 6/10 – Arsenal discovered it too simple to separate the defenders, usually leaving the centre-back in no man’s land.
CB: Molly Bartrip – 6/10 – Led the defence with class however was drawn out of place too simply, leaving Spencer stranded because the final line of defence.
LB: Amanda Nilden – 6/10 – Struggled in opposition to Mead’s relentlessness however made instinctive tackles to maintain Spurs in with an opportunity of an equaliser.
RM: Celin Bizet – 7/10 – The 4-4-2 formation pushed the Norwegian out on the flank, making her far much less impactful than when she operates extra centrally. Nonetheless created a few possibilities.
CM: Package Graham – 6/10 – Made some dangerous tackles in midfield and struggled for any management in opposition to Little and Pelova.
CM: Eveliina Summanen – 6/10 – Struggled within the face of Arsenal’s midfield dominance however supplied one other attacking outlet, despite the fact that Spurs struggled to make use of it successfully.
LM: Grace Clinton – 7/10 – Tenacious and managed, Clinton created overloads that Arsenal struggled to take care of. Nevertheless, she was unable to show her creations into goalscoring alternatives.
ST: Jessica Naz – 8/10 – Used her tempo to good impact and hit the woodwork with a shot Zinsberger tipped onto the submit. Put in the perfect efficiency for the guests.
ST: Martha Thomas – 7/10 – Could not profit from her possibilities however proved efficient within the defensive third as Spurs tried to remain within the recreation.
Substitutes
SUB: Ramona Petzelberger (60′ for Neville) – 6/10
SUB: Olga Ahtinen (60′ for Graham ) – 6/10
SUB: Drew Spence (60′ for Naz) – 7/10
SUB: Bethany England (69′ for Thomas) – 7/10
SUB: Matilda Vinberg (75′ for Bizet) – N/A
Unused subs: Barbora Votikova (GK), Charlotte Grant, Luana Buhler, Shuang Wang.
Supervisor
Robert Vilahamn – 5/10 – The 4-4-2 system has not been efficient for the Swede thus far, but he opted for the formation once more, leaving an excessive amount of house for Arsenal to take advantage of.
