A rejuvenated Arsenal secured their fifth win in six games under interim head coach Renée Slegers, cruising to a surprisingly easy victory away at Tottenham in a disappointingly one-sided north London derby. It took just 64 seconds for Arsenal to take the lead, with England striker Alessia Russo powerfully striking the ball with her left foot before Tottenham had a chance to settle. A well-executed passing move then allowed Norway midfielder Frida Maanum to calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner for Arsenal’s second goal in the 22nd minute, effectively sealing the contest.
A fingertip save by Netherlands goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar prevented Bethany England from scoring for Tottenham just before half-time, but Arsenal’s dominance continued unabated. The away side’s balanced team setup, particularly with Australia defender Steph Catley playing as a left-footed centre-back alongside England captain Leah Williamson, seemed to enhance their performance. The 4-2-3-1 formation brought out the best in Russo, who held the ball well and had supporting runners on either side.
When Russo was substituted, Arsenal’s Stina Blackstenius nearly scored with a first-time effort that hit the crossbar. She later secured the visitors’ third goal, capitalizing on a lapse in Tottenham’s defense to comfortably beat goalkeeper Becky Spencer. The defeat marked Tottenham’s fifth in their last six games, leaving head coach Robert Vilahamn looking despondent as the match concluded, in stark contrast to the jubilant scenes when his team last beat Arsenal in the WSL.
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