How Arsenal Women exposed Spurs with direct play in 5-2 derby win

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Arsenal Women’s commanding 5-2 victory over Tottenham on Saturday showcased a masterclass in tactical execution, with Renee Slegers’ side systematically exploiting Spurs’ aggressive pressing through quick, direct play into the channels.

Speaking after the match, Slegers explained the tactical approach that proved so effective in the first half. “Yes, because with their aggression and jumping on backwards passes and going player for player that’s something we wanted to exploit. So I think we did that really well in the 1st half,” the manager told Arseblog News.

First-time passing breaks Spurs press

The Gunners identified that Tottenham would deploy an aggressive player-for-player press and crafted their game plan around turning that intensity against their north London rivals. Time and again, Arsenal players looked to play the ball forward with minimal touches, finding space behind Spurs’ high defensive line.

Key examples throughout the first half demonstrated this approach perfectly. When Steph Catley found Mariona Caldentey with Spurs’ entire team behind the ball, the Spanish midfielder took just one touch before whipping a forward pass to Olivia Smith, who had intelligently inverted from the flank.

Similarly, when Lotte Wubben-Moy received possession with five Spurs players pressed into Arsenal’s half, she immediately lofted the ball over Tottenham’s defence for Alessia Russo to chase.

Direct doesn’t always mean long

Arsenal’s directness wasn’t solely about playing long balls. The tactical approach centered on quick decision-making and first-time passes that caught Spurs’ aggressive press off guard. When goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar rolled the ball to Frida Holmberg, the full-back sent it into the channel immediately, leaving Spurs defender Bartrip isolated and forcing a foul on Russo.

The pattern repeated consistently – Katie McCabe intercepted a clearance and headed it forward first time, Catley played upfield passes without hesitation despite being surrounded by Spurs players, and Wubben-Moy consistently found space in the right channel to launch attacks.

This tactical discipline in the first half created numerous scoring opportunities, with Russo frequently finding herself in dangerous positions behind Tottenham’s defence. The approach directly led to several goals and forced errors from the Spurs backline.

Second half adjustments

As the match progressed, Arsenal’s direct approach became less pronounced. Tottenham made tactical adjustments to address their pressing vulnerabilities, while Slegers made changes with one eye on Wednesday evening’s fixture.

The tactical battle highlighted Arsenal Women’s ability to identify and exploit opposition weaknesses through intelligent game planning and disciplined execution. The 5-2 scoreline reflected not just individual quality but a cohesive tactical approach that systematically dismantled Spurs’ defensive structure in the opening period.