Arsenal Women fight back to beat Tottenham in north London derby
Arsenal Women ended a five match winless run in the Women's Super League with a battling 2-1 comeback victory away to Tottenham on Saturday, taking bragging rights in the north London derby.
Renée Slegers' side fell behind early at Spurs but hit back twice to seal the win, a result that will offer some relief after a difficult run of form that included a 1-1 draw with Birmingham the previous weekend.
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Tandberg header puts Spurs ahead
The derby started poorly for Arsenal. Former Gunner Victoria Pelova swung in a corner in the 13th minute and Cathinka Tandberg rose highest to head Tottenham into the lead.
The response was almost immediate. Four minutes later, Alessia Russo picked out Georgia Stanway, who drove a powerful strike in off the underside of the crossbar to level the scores.
The first half remained tightly contested from there, with Tottenham looking dangerous on the counter attack and Arsenal unable to find a second goal before half time.
Russo converts the winner from the penalty spot
Arsenal came out with greater intent after the break. Russo was denied by a strong save from Tottenham goalkeeper Lize Kop, and Lisa Baum then struck the woodwork as the pressure built.
The decisive moment arrived from a scramble following an Arsenal corner, when the ball struck substitute Ella Morris's raised arm. The referee pointed to the spot, a decision that Tottenham players disputed at length.
Russo stepped up in the 56th minute and sent Kop the wrong way to complete the turnaround.
Tottenham pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages, and Shekiera Martinez thought she had found one late on, only to be ruled offside. Arsenal held on to see out the win.
What it means for Arsenal
The victory lifts Arsenal to sixth in the Women's Super League table and ends a run of five matches without a win in the competition.
As Arsenal's official match report confirmed, the comeback was built on a response to adversity that had been missing in recent weeks, with Slegers' side falling behind before fighting back through Stanway and Russo.
Questions remain about Arsenal's early season form and whether the squad has retained the competitive edge of previous campaigns. A comeback win away at Tottenham will not erase those concerns entirely, but it does give Slegers something to build on heading into the next round of fixtures.
