Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Cooney-Cross, Wälti; Foord, Maanum, Mariona; Russo
Substitutes: Zinsberger, Codina, Mead, Little, Kelly, Nighswonger, Blackstenius, Ilestedt, Reid
Arsenal have beaten Tottenham (who get battered everywhere they go) 5-0 in front of 56,784 fans at the Emirates Stadium, with goals from Alessia Russo, Mariona, Frida Maanum, and Emily Fox.
Renée Slegers restored Daphne van Domselaar, Emily Fox, and Steph Catley to the back five, while Caitlin Foord returned from injury, and Alessia Russo returned to centre forward. Chloe Kelly, eligible for the first time since joining on loan, was on the bench.
Maite Oroz had an early sighter after Arsenal initially cleared a free kick.
Arsenal took the lead on 15 minutes. Cooney-Cross took possession on the right wing after Raso fell over and lost the ball. Cooney-Cross crossed for Russo, whose flicked header went into the bottom corner via a deflection from Clare Hunt. 1-0.
A minute later, Foord seized on a loose ball in the Tottenham penalty box, but Kop pushed her shot away.
Russo then turned away beautifully from Hunt in the penalty box, but her shot from the left corner of the 6 yard-box was straight at Kop. Kop then saved from Foord: Mariona’s ability in tight spaces kept the ball, and then McCabe’s cross found an open Foord, but her left footed shot was, again, straight at Kop.
Russo got ahead of Hunt to reach Catley’s cross, but Kop was able to parry behind for a corner.
Mariona made it 2-0 on 35 minutes. Maanum smartly found Mariona on the edge of the ‘D.’ Her first shot was blocked by Bartrip, but came back to back her, and her second shot went into the far corner. 2-0.
On 44 minutes, McCabe played a corner short to Mariona, and got the return in acres of space. Her cross was floated to the front of the goal, where Maanum headed over. Seconds later, Mariona and Maanum combined on the right. Maanum played the ball over the top, and Russo headed just wide. Kop then saved from Wälti on the stroke of half-time.
Arsenal should have made it 3-0 on 50 minutes. McCabe robbed Ashleigh Neville, and played into Russo. Russo’s first shot was blocked, but she got the rebound, but her second shot was too central and Kop was able to push wide.
Frida Maanum would make it 3-0 on 51 minutes. Wälti found Foord coming from the outside, and Foord passed short to Maanum. Maanum shot from the edge of the area, and the shot, on target, went in via a hefty deflection off of Hunt. 3-0.
Russo made it 4-0 with a blistering counter attack on 58 minutes. Williamson played long into midfield, where Maanum’s clever flick found Foord. Foord drove on and on through the middle of the pitch, then played to Russo on the right. Russo shot first time across the goal, and her shot went in off the post. 4-0.
Arsenal made a double substitution on the hour. Stina Blackstenius replaced Frida Maanum and Chloe Kelly replaced Caitlin Foord.
Blackstenius would test Kop after Mariona drove forward on the break.
Van Domselaar was called into action on 65 minutes, parrying away Drew Spence’s header from a corner.
Kelly’s first involvement was to play a good ball over the top for Blackstenius. She couldn’t turn Hunt, but shot, with the ball going out for a corner.
Kelly would then play a one-two with Fox, and then cross to the far post, but McCabe, coming round the back, couldn’t get power on the header.
Arsenal made a double substitution on 76 minutes, with Laia Codina and Kim Little replacing Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Beth England would test van Domselaar with a shot from a narrow angle, which she comfortably held.
On 87 minutes, Jenna Nighswonger replaced Mariona. Nighswonger went to left back and McCabe pushed further forward.
A minute later, Spurs broke well. Grant chased a long ball down the left and played back to Martha Thomas. Her cross found Holdt in the centre, but the header was wide.
Emily Fox’s first WSL goal made it 5-0 on 90 minutes. Little set the American up, and from the inside right channel, 25 yards from goal, Fox’s shot arrowed into the top left corner. 5-0.
There was still time for one more effort. Chloe Kelly beat Ella Morris on the goal line, kept the ball in play, and looked to chip Kop from a narrow angle. Her shot, though, went off the bar, denying her a dream return to Arsenal.
I am not a “tactico” by any means, but I like the way we press. Looks a lot more organized than I have ever noticed. Great result today.
Nice kick about with the girls.
One of my gripes about the end of the Eidevall era was that it seemed to cede so much of the momentum this team had been building with the fans. It feels like forever ago (Chelsea last season?) since Arsenal produced such a comprehensive victory in front of a nearly full house at the Emirates. I think the club needed a victory like this to really restore the belief, not in themselves, but in their connection to the fans.
A glorious day, a glorious weekend!
COYG!
Superb piece of commentary!
Death, taxes and Tottenham get battered everywhere they go
PoTM — The Spud goalie! She kept them in it for quite some time.
Btw, nice of Saka and “Lewis Skelly” for showing up to support the ladies. Awesome gesture.
Lewis Skelly is taking fashion tips from Timber….
Excellent performance from the whole team but Russo was outstanding with her work rate and the way she made a complete nuisance of herself and well taken goal.
I thought their keeper was very good although not quite up to keeping Fox’s effort out of goal. The iconic Lioness Chloe Kelly made her debut and did very nicely indeed, shows some promise of what may be to come.
55,748 is a remarkable attendance and they got very good value for money today. Well done.
If only Chloe’s last minute chip had ducked under the crossbar instead of bouncing back from it that would have been a true fairytale!
Spurs have to thank the Kop, Arsenal’s game was well organized, structured on the field, they didn’t let Naz and Bethel England have possession of the ball, it was easily intercepted, the subs responded well on the field, today I saw a team game, attacking together and defending together.
And one more detail, the referee did very well in the game, without controversy, maintaining the Derby spectacle.
Yes we are always quick to complain about officials when they get things wrong but the ref today was very good. It’s a pity we don’t have a dozen that can run a game like that!
Absolutely, I clapped her and her assistants as they left the field and went down the tunnel. She wouldn’t have noticed but she did look pleased with a job well done.
NORTH LONDON IS RED!!!!