Arsenal Women convincingly earned the North London derby bragging rights over Tottenham Hotspur Women with a 3-0 victory over their Women's Super League rivals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Rejuvenated under interim boss Renee Slegers, who has overseen a terrific revival since replacing Jonas Eidevall, the Gunners strode to victory through Alessia Russo, Frida Maanum and Stina Blackstenius and were never seriously troubled by their meek hosts.
Fresh from a 4-0 thrashing of Juventus in the Champions League, Arsenal had Spurs on the ropes straight away and needed just 63 seconds to draw first blood through a slick Russo finish.
The ex-Manchester United striker scored the second-quickest goal in Arsenal's WSL history, and that rapid opener was a sign of things to come, as Slegers's side continued to huff and puff while barely allowing Spurs to venture out of their own half.
The Gunners allowed a couple of opportunities for goal number two to pass them by, but thanks to some more pitiful Tottenham defending, Maanum swept home a well-worked second midway through the first half.
Robert Vilahamn's team belatedly found some attacking verve approaching half time, but their efforts were largely futile, and they could have easily been three or four down had the visitors been a touch more ruthless in the final third and a touch less casual in their own defensive third.
The hosts cut more combative figures at the start of the second half, albeit without the penetration needed to cut through the Arsenal defence, and the result was put beyond any doubt when substitute Blackstenius calmly slotted home the visitors' third.
The Gunners' emphatic triumph has seen them open up a three-point lead over Manchester United in fourth place in the WSL table, although the Red Devils have two games in hand, and they sit four points behind leaders Manchester City having played a game more.
Meanwhile, Spurs sit seventh in the division and are left to rue another dismal defensive display, one which has seen them become the first side in the league this season to concede over 20 goals.
TOTTENHAM VS. ARSENAL HIGHLIGHTS
Alessia Russo goal vs. Tottenham (2nd min, Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal)
Arsenal lead after 64 seconds!! ⚡
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 16, 2024
A quality finish on the turn from Alessia Russo 👏#TOTARS #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/KdOTGLiH5I
Slegers's side are not messing about at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium!
Mariona Caldentey threads a pass through to Russo - aided by a deflection - and the England international lashes a terrific left-footed strike into the far corner to give the Gunners an immediate lead.
Russo's first-time effort is officially the second-fastest Arsenal goal in the history of the WSL, only behind Jordan Nobbs's 28-second strike versus Liverpool 10 years ago.
Frida Maanum goal vs. Tottenham (22nd min, Tottenham 0-2 Arsenal)
"Just too easy for Arsenal" as Frida Maanum makes it two!#TOTARS #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/Cxt6pwABQu
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 16, 2024
So, so easy for Arsenal.
Leah Williamson, Maanum and Kim Little exchange some crisp one-touch passes, and the Norwegian continues her run into the box, where Little picks her out under no pressure whatsoever.
Maanum has time to take the ball on her left foot, readjust her position and find the bottom corner with a composed right-footed finish, and Slegers's team have the second goal that their dominance warranted.
Stina Blackstenius goal vs. Tottenham (66th min, Tottenham 0-3 Arsenal)
Arsenal go THREE up in the north London derby 👊
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 16, 2024
Renee Slegers' substitution pays off as Stina Blackstenius slots home 🎯#TOTARS #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/S9FVHhWXjY
An immediate impact from the substitute Blackstenius, and akin to Arsenal's second goal, this one is all about the slick one-touch passes.
Maanum drives infield and finds Caldentey, who picks out the run of Blackstenius with an exquisite, delicate pass, and the Scandinavian striker coolly picks out the bottom corner one-on-one with Becky Spencer.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - MARIONA CALDENTEY
© Imago
Goalscorers Russo and Maanum would have both been worthy selections for the player of the match prize, but scintillating Spaniard Caldentey just edges this vote, having had a direct hand in two of Arsenal's three efforts on the day.
The 28-year-old was not credited with the assist for Russo's goal thanks to the deflection, but her deft pass through to Blackstenius was the dictionary definition of sublime, while she also put in two tackles and two clearances to quell some Spurs attacks in their tracks.
TOTTENHAM VS. ARSENAL MATCH STATS
Possession: Tottenham 40%-60% Arsenal
Shots: Tottenham 3-15 Arsenal
Shots on target: Tottenham 2-8 Arsenal
Corners: Tottenham 4-4 Arsenal
Fouls: Tottenham 13-9 Arsenal
BEST STATS
1:03 - Alessia Russo's goal after 63 seconds is @ArsenalWFC's second fastest in @BarclaysWSL history, after Jordan Nobbs' 28 second strike against Liverpool in October 2014. Expeditious. #TOTARS pic.twitter.com/rJi4qvS2yo
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 16, 2024
9 - Stina Blackstenius' goal against Spurs was her 9th as a substitute in the @BarclaysWSL - no player in the competition's history has scored more from the bench. Super. #TOTARS
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 16, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Champions League matters now take precedence for Arsenal, who square up to Juventus on Thursday evening - aiming for a repeat of their 4-0 away win on November 12 - before hosting Aston Villa on December 8 after the international break.
As for Spurs, the Lilywhites will coincidentally take on Villa in the League Cup next Saturday lunchtime, and Everton are the next WSL visitors to North London on December 8.
Ben Knapton
