Suzanne Wrack’s match report
Here’s the table after a big day in the WSL.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City Women | 9 | 14 | 24 |
| 2 | Chelsea Women | 9 | 11 | 21 |
| 3 | Man Utd Women | 9 | 10 | 17 |
| 4 | Arsenal Women | 9 | 10 | 16 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur Women | 9 | -1 | 16 |
| 6 | London City Lionesses | 9 | -5 | 15 |
| 7 | Brighton & Hove Albion Women | 9 | 3 | 11 |
| 8 | Aston Villa Women | 8 | -1 | 10 |
| 9 | Leicester Women | 9 | -11 | 6 |
| 10 | Everton Women | 9 | -7 | 5 |
| 11 | West Ham Women | 9 | -14 | 4 |
| 12 | Liverpool FC Women | 8 | -9 | 2 |
Charles Antaki gets in touch: “Well, that was frustrating. I blame knees.”
Full-time: Tottenham 0-0 Arsenal
That game could have been played until next Friday and a goal wouldn’t have come. Arsenal ran out of ideas, Tottenham were excellent in defence but that meant they didn’t do much attacking. They will feel the happier, though, Arsenal are yet to ride out their slump.
90+4 min: We are ticking towards that first 0-0. Arsenal’s lack of form has been apparent; they’ve struggled with Tottenham’s organisation and determination.
90+3 min: Thomas, the Tottenham sub, sees glory, and shoots on goal. She smashes wide, and has a big smile as she sees the funny side of an effort that was never going in.
90+1 min: Kelly is robbed in midfield though rather than mount an attack, Tottenham chose to hold on to possession.
90 min: Spence spreads the play, and Tottenham are on the attack. Five more minutes will be played. The counting Gunners aren’t happy it was so few.
89 min: A drop ball is awarded after that, and Kop gets the ball back uncontested. The Arsenal fans resume their countdown chant.
88 min: Kop dashes out to claim the ball high, and ends up smashing Russo over. No foul, the ball was there to be won.
87 min: Not sure what Cooney-Cross was aiming for as the ball is played out to the wing, and the same Arsenal player has to run back to stop Naz escaping.
86 min: A foul on Foord from Naz and that’s a free-kick. Arsenal’s set pieces have been poor all game. They now want to bring on Chloe Kelly for Foord.
85 min: Hinds whips the corner in, and Wubben-Moy can’t make a significant enough connection. The Arsenal fans get impatient as Kop takes her time over kicking out of hand, counting down the seconds.
84 min: Drew Spence clears up the danger, as one of the experienced hands to the Tottenham pump. But Arsenal have a corner.
83 min: Caldentey is doing her best to thread the play, but Tottenham are closing off space. Thomas is booked for a late tackle on Fox. She protests but was nowhere near the ball.
82 min: Caldentey thwacks a shot wide of the goal.
81 min: Two balls on the pitch for the second time, the ball boy/girls rather going off alarming in getting the play restarted.
79 min: Arsenal are in one of their dominant phases. Spurs retain that defensive shape, it’s been supremely organised all afternoon.
76 min: This would be the first ever goalless WSL draw in this derby game. Arsenal try to make sure that’s not the case but Maanum is penalised rather unnecessarily. Tension is creeping in.
74 min: More subs, Tottenham take off Summanen and Vinberg, on come Thomas and Ahtinen.
73 min: Naz and Fox tangle, and there’s frustration as Naz is penalised for a foul.
Updated
71 min: Tottenham force a corner. That’s cleared. It feels like a 0-0 is creeping ever closer.
70 min: The Gunners keep up the pressure, Smith eventually dragging her shot right into Kop’s hands.
69 min: Chloe Kelly, the supersub, is warming up. Can she bring her Euros magic to bear?
Updated
68 min: Charles Antaki: “In spite of her winning goal in the WCL, for which of course immortality, Blackstenius is an incomparably frustrating player, capable of the most enraging misses, fluffs and howlers. But score today and all is forgiven (until the next time).”
Seems that Renee Slegers thinks the same. Not a good showing from the Swedish striker.
67 min: Foord and Hinds fail to link up, that Spurs defence holding firm once more.
66 min: Smith’s running continues to cause all sorts of trouble, and she looks the likeliest to break the deadlock.
64 min: Here comes Beth England, on for Tandberg who has faded from the contest.
62 min: Smith forces a save from Kop, who goes down hurt, and there will be a break in play, with fluids taken on.
61 min: Arsenal push on and on, and Caldentey coming to the fore but Hunt leads the Spurs defensive effort, as Smith gets a shot in.
60 min: The defences remain on top. Beth England is soon to come on for Tottenham.
59 min: Smith shows her zest for defensive duties by running back to break up a Tottenham counter.
58 min: Early touch for Maanum but she fails to find Russo with her pass.
Updated
57 min: That sub is happening already, Blackstenius goes off for Maanum.
Updated
56 min: Frida Maanum seems to be imminent for Arsenal. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s Summanen has gone down with an ankle problem.
54 min: We still await that first goal. Both teams have looked more positive, with Olivia Smith looking the most dangerous player.
52 min: Smith has made quite the impact, and runs down the flank, causing havoc. Again, her good work is wasted so a corner will have to do, though a foul on Neville means Tottenham collect a free-kick. Wubben-Moy was loose with her elbow there, not deliberately so.
50 min: Smith, the sub, gets to the byline and sets up Blackstenius to shoot over. The buildup deserved better.
49 min: Tottenham engaging a high press, seems they haven’t changed their personnel but the tactics have changed.
48 min: McCabe had been booked and Mead was not at her best. Renee Slegers had clearly seen enough.
46 min: Back underway, and Tottenham land their first corner. It comes to naught, but positive signs. Two subs for Arsenal, Mead and McCabe departing, Taylor Hinds and Olivia Smith were warming up at the break.
Half-time: Tottenham 0-0 Arsenal
Not a classic derby, Arsenal struggling to pick the lock of a stern and sturdy Tottenham defensive effort. Nobody has yet brought their shooting boots to this one. A goal could really open things up.
45+3 min: A Koga foul on Blackstenius means it’s an Arsenal free-kick, in a central area. Kop lines up her wall which holds firm as Mead smashes straight into the wall of white shirts.
45+2 min: Caldentey and Mead attempt to conjure something but the Spurs defence holds firm once more. They’ve been a strong unit.
45 min: Nice weaving run by Vinberg relieves the pressure on the Tottenham defence. Four minutes are added on. Naz has a shot, and it flies wide. Very wide.
44 min: Tottenham favour a slow buildup once again. They lose it and Arsenal go on the attack; Foord centres the ball to Russo who fails to get her shot off.
43 min: More Arsenal pressure but Mead and Fox are caught at cross purposes, while Tottenham are struggling to clear their lines, and keep the ball.
41 min: Katie McCabe is booked for stopping a Holdt run in its tracks. That was a tad cynical from the Ireland player.
41 min: Does this game need a goal to lift it? Arsenal look the likelier, but still not too likely.
39 min: Nice skill from Blackstenius, who drops her shoulder, feints and shoots. Kop was more than equal to the task.
38 min: A rare Tottenham attack breaks down in familiar fashion, Naz’s ball into the middle is cleared, though there was a bit of a wobble from Arsenal’s defenders.
37 min: Arsenal have had 78% possession in the last 10 minutes. And yet they haven’t threatened too much. Tottenham have defended well.
35 min: Best chance so far, Mead sets up Russo, who blams her shot wide.
33 min: Another Arsenal free-kick, Blackstenius heads across goal and that’s no big problem for Kop. Arsenal have the momentum now, pinning Tottenham back.
30 min: The game is yet to catch light, lot of tension within both teams. Attacking play has been sub-optimal so far.
28 min: Catley was one of the players involved there, and there’s an on-field conference as she and Tottenham’s Hunt are taken off, and brought back on.
26 min: Cooney-Cross’s free-kick ball is aimed at Russo but knocked behind for a corner. That leads to a clash of heads, and a break in play.
25 min: Blackstenius looms with intent but the ball is whacked clear. They’re coming more into it, and Tottenham’s Neville concedes a foul.
23 min: Spurs are doing better in midfield but are struggling to link their attacking players….Caldentey has a pass intercepted, just as it was reaching Beth Mead. Arsenal are showing similar shortcomings.
Updated
22 min: Arsenal on the attack, Cooney-Cross has a speculative effort, but is leaning back so it flies wide and high.
20 min: Beth Mead is hurt, looks to have a dead leg or muscle injury. She’s OK to continue. She’s been peripheral so far, and so has Caldentey.
19 min: Naz gets down the right this time, and her ball into the middle is missed by all, including Vinberg who was its target.
17 min: Blackstenius almost intercepts a pass meant for Kop. Almost: the Arsenal attackers are pressing high at the moment.
15 min: The lively Naz is sent away; the ball ends up going backwards. The Arsenal defence is holding its shape well.
14 min: An Arsenal counter, and some breathing space. Mead releases Fox, who finds space opening up, and shoots. Easy save for Kop, though.
13 min: A neat turn from Tottenham’s Naz is brought to a halt by a foul; it’s bitty stuff so far. Nilden goes down that left flank again as she and Naz keep up the pressure.
11 min: Vinberg almost escapes down the left, only for her final pass to be intercepted by the Arsenal defence.
10 min: Wubben-Moy is robbed by Tandberg to set up a Tottenham counter. It comes to nothing, the defences very much on top here.
Updated
9 min: Caitlin Foord is the target for a long pass but can’t keep it in; neither set of forwards have hit the right wavelength just yet.
7 min: Van Domselaar claims the resultant free-kick with ease.
6 min: Hell of a noise from both sets of fans. Good stuff, good to hear. Wubben-Moy concedes a foul by knocking over Tandberg.
5 min: Tottenham continue to hold possession, this is impressive from them. Arsenal eventually win it back and are similarly slow on the ball.
4 min: Tottenham take their time over a buildup, trying to take the steam from Arsenal. Seems a sensible policy.
2 min: Tottenham’s Holdt looks for a through ball but it goes awry. Arsenal look the more comfortable in possession so far.
Away we go...
1 min: It’s a chilly afternoon in Leyton, as Lotte Wubben-Moy makes her 100th WSL appearance for the Gunners. Arsenal go straight on the attack with North London Forever being sung lustily. The ball goes to Mead, who miscontrols.
Charles Antaki gets in touch: “A decent starting XI for Arsenal, but the team have been fragile recently, badly missing Kim Little and of course Leah Williamson. The view at the top of the league looks pretty bleak, with the lurking prospect of missing out entirely from qualification for next year’s WCL - presumably not something the accountants would be very happy about, let alone players and fans. But the opposition today might give a bit of a fillip - ladies, it’s Tottenham.”
That Chelsea draw is a huge result, especially after Manchester City won their derby match.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City Women | 9 | 14 | 24 |
| 2 | Chelsea Women | 9 | 11 | 21 |
| 3 | Man Utd Women | 9 | 10 | 17 |
| 4 | Arsenal Women | 8 | 10 | 15 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur Women | 8 | -1 | 15 |
| 6 | London City Lionesses | 9 | -5 | 15 |
| 7 | Brighton & Hove Albion Women | 9 | 3 | 11 |
| 8 | Aston Villa Women | 8 | -1 | 10 |
| 9 | Leicester Women | 9 | -11 | 6 |
| 10 | Everton Women | 9 | -7 | 5 |
| 11 | West Ham Women | 9 | -14 | 4 |
| 12 | Liverpool FC Women | 8 | -9 | 2 |
Today’s other WSL matches:
Aston Villa 1-3 London City
Brighton 4-1 Leicester
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
West Ham 3-1 Everton
More details here:
Last time out.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/09/wsl-roundup-manchester-city-go-top-liverpool-and-west-ham-stay-winless
One change from Arsenal’s loss to Bayern in midweek, Kyra Cooney-Cross replaces Victoria Pelova in midfield. Tottenham are unchanged, despite losing to London City last time out.
The teams
Tottenham XI: Kop, Neville, Koga, Hunt, Nilden, Summanen, Spence, Naz, Holdt, Vinberg, Tandberg. Subs: Heeps, Grant, Bartrip, Rybrink, Ahtinen, England, Graham, Gunning-Williams, Thomas.
Arsenal XI: Van Domselaar, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe, Foord, Caldentey, Cooney-Cross, Mead, Blackstenius, Russo. Subs: Borbe, Codina, Maanum, Smith, Kelly, Pelova, Nighswonger, Hinds, Harwood.
Suzanne Wrack spoke to Arsenal’s Alessia Russo.
“When you get to where we are, there is so much that comes with it, pressures and highs and lows. Doing something like this is a real switch-off from that and it’s something we’re all passionate about as players. We all know the growth of the game is happening really fast, but we also know where we all started. That’s what’s really unique about the women’s game, because we’re all looking at what we can do to leave it in an even better place.”
Here’s the WSL table.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City Women | 9 | 14 | 24 |
| 2 | Chelsea Women | 9 | 11 | 21 |
| 3 | Man Utd Women | 9 | 10 | 17 |
| 4 | Arsenal Women | 8 | 10 | 15 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur Women | 8 | -1 | 15 |
| 6 | London City Lionesses | 9 | -5 | 15 |
| 7 | Brighton & Hove Albion Women | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| 8 | Aston Villa Women | 8 | -1 | 10 |
| 9 | Leicester Women | 9 | -10 | 6 |
| 10 | Everton Women | 9 | -8 | 5 |
| 11 | West Ham Women | 9 | -13 | 4 |
| 12 | Liverpool FC Women | 8 | -9 | 2 |
Preamble
Welcome to coverage of the north London derby, with the action taking place out east at Brisbane Road, home of Leyton Orient. It’s a battle of fourth v fifth, the European champions needing an away win to stay in touch with the top three. They face a much improved Tottenham team, lifted by Martin Ho’s arrival as coach. Spurs can leapfrog their rivals if they win.
Kick-off is at 2.30pm UK time. Join me.
