Here’s a roundup of Sunday’s other WSL action. Thanks for joining me. Bye!
Manchester City's difficult start to the season continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Reading. Norwegian forward Amalie Eikeland put the Royals in front after just three minutes at the Madejski Stadium, heading home a corner at the near post.
The hosts held their lead until half-time, with Grace Moloney denying Georgia Stanway from a City corner, but Samantha Mewis got City level on 56 minutes. The US international picked the ball up on the left and cut infield past two defenders before firing the ball into the far corner.
Mewis's international teammate Rose Lavelle sent a late effort narrowly wide, but Gareth Taylor's side had to settle for a point. After just five games, City are seven points behind leaders Arsenal and five behind local rivals Manchester United, who won 4-2 at West Ham.
Alessia Russo put the visitors ahead after 20 minutes, then set up Tobin Heath to power home a second three minutes later. Emily van Egmond pulled one back for the Hammers, only for Russo to restore the two-goal cushion before half-time for Casey Stoney's side.
Rachel Daly scored her first West Ham goal with seven minutes to play, lobbing Mary Earps from the edge of the area. Substitute Christen Press (pictured) made sure of victory with her first Manchester United goal, sweeping home at the far post four minutes later.
United move up to third, behind Everton only on goal difference after their perfect start came to an end with a 2-2 draw at home to Brighton.
The visitors took a surprise lead, but Izzy Christiansen levelled and Valérie Gauvin's second-half header put Everton ahead. Aileen Whelan grabbed a point for Hope Powell's side, turning Fiss Gibbons' low cross into the roof of the net with 12 minutes to play.
Bottom club Bristol City's miserable start continued as they lost 4-0 at home to Birmingham. Claudia Walker's long-range effort was the pick of the Blues' goals with Rachel Corsie, Mollie Green and Christie Murray also on target. Niall McVeigh
Match report
Here’s Vivianne Miedema, asked if she plans to stay on top of the WSL’s all-time scoring charts. “I hope so, but it’s a long season. There are lots of other players in this league, so it’s still open. I’m just happy to help the team. We love each other, we fight for each other.”
Stay tuned for reaction from WSL history-maker Vivianne Miedema, and a roundup of Sunday’s other action. Spurs fans in need of cheering up could do worse than join Daniel Harris as the men’s team take on West Ham. Gareth Bale is on the bench, you know.
Full time! Arsenal 6-1 Tottenham
Credit to Spurs for their second-half efforts, which led to Lucia Leon getting their first ever competitive goal against Arsenal. Sadly by that stage they were already 6-0 down, after the Gunners flew out of the traps, getting the game all but won within 15 minutes.
92 mins: Mace makes an important challenge to break up a late Spurs attack, and Arsenal look happy to play keep-ball from here.
90 mins: There’ll be four added minutes. Changes for both sides: Anouk Denton comes on for her debut in place of Foord, while Elisha Sulola replaces Kennedy, who worked tirelessly in midfield for Spurs.
87 mins: Addison dances infield, but her attempted pass into the box is cut out by Williamson. This has been a much better half for Spurs, admittedly against opponents who have eased up considerably.
85 mins: Neville gets back to successfully battle McCabe off the ball, as Arsenal go in search of a seventh. The right-back then gets forward and swings a cross towards Kennedy, whose far-post header goes wide.
83 mins: Worm’s corner is just too high for Alanna Kennedy, who can’t get her header on target. Meanwhile, a great example of the passive-aggressive opposition goal tweet here:
Goal for Tottenham. Leon.
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) October 18, 2020
🔴 6-1 ⚪️ (77) | #BarclaysFAWSL 🏆
81 mins: Mace gets involved, nicking the ball off Ayane to break up a Spurs attack. Spurs do get a corner, Harrop’s cross turned behind by Jen Beattie.
79 mins: Van de Donk is withdrawn, replaced by Ruby Mace. The midfielder was born in September 2003, when this banger was No 1:
GOAL! Arsenal 6-1 Tottenham (Leon 77')
From the corner, Spurs do get on the scoresheet! Zinsberger gets distracted by Dean, and while she’s jostling with the forward, the corner is whipped to Lucia Leon, who nods home unchallenged.
75 mins: Spurs keep pushing for a goal, but Williamson and Beattie are dealing with everything comfortably enough - until an overhit back-pass from the former forces Zinsberger to hack the ball behind...
Manchester City have had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Reading; they’ll be a full seven points behind Arsenal once the leaders’ latest victory is confirmed.
70 mins: Spurs win a free kick some 30 yards out, from which Worm goes for goal. It’s a decent effort with power and swerve, but flies over Zinsberger’s crossbar.
68 mins: Ria Percival becomes the third Spurs player to get a booking.
66 mins: Miedema’s afternoon is over - she’s replaced by Lotte Wubben-Moy. A wise move, with tougher games against Manchester United and Chelsea coming up.
GOAL! Arsenal 6-0 Tottenham (Foord 64')
Arsenal click through the gears again, and extend their lead further. It’s sparked by a brilliant piece of play from Miedema, drawing in defenders before slipping a pass to Beth Mead. Her low cross finds Foord, whose shot deflects off Neville and loops beyond Spencer.
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61 mins: Dean goes in the book for dissent. Moments later, Worm wriggles down the left, but is stopped on the edge of the box by the tireless Van de Donk.
60 mins: Kennedy and Ayane combine well in midfield, but Ayane can’t find Dean with a prodded through-ball. Arsenal have eased off the gas in the second half, perhaps understandably given their injury worries.
57 mins: Spurs’ Anna Filbey has picked up a knock, and has to be replaced by Dutch international Siri Worm. Dean, perhaps still frustrated by that penalty miss, gets a word in her ear from the referee after a late tackle on Williamson.
55 mins: ... but as Spurs push forward, Arsenal expose them on the break again, with Foord breaking through the middle. Zadorsky puts pressure on her, and the striker’s shot is tipped away by Spencer.
53 mins: Rosella Ayane, who has helped Spurs’ cause with her hold-up play since coming on, can’t find the target with an ambitious effort from the corner of the area...
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Dean's penalty is saved!
A cruel blow for Spurs, as Rianna Dean’s penalty is turned away by Zinsberger! It was well-struck but the keeper guessed the right way. Ashleigh Neville is first to the rebound but can only prod the rebound over the bar. It’s not been Tottenham’s day.
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Spurs have a penalty!
Leon goes down under pressure from McCabe, and the referee points to the spot!
48 mins: Foord shifts inside and tries a curling effort from the edge of the box that flies into the empty North Bank behind the goal.
Here we go again
Arsenal get the second half started; no changes for either team at the break, although Spurs made two before half-time.
Elsewhere, Sam Mewis is on the scoresheet for Manchester City, who are level at Reading. Everton were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Brighton, while Birmingham are 4-0 up at bottom club Bristol City.
Half time: Arsenal 5-0 Tottenham
Arsenal already out of sight after a ruthless first-half display, with Vivianne Miedema getting a hat-trick and becoming the WSL’s all-time top scorer in the process. If they continue in this vein in the second half, it could be a bleak afternoon for their rivals, who have been outclassed so far.
45 mins: Spurs end a dispiriting half trying to get themselves on the scoresheet, Ayane trying to find the isolated Dean with a cutback that’s cleared away. Two minutes of added time.
GOAL! Arsenal 5-0 Tottenham (Miedema gets her hat-trick!)
No, in a word. Spurs haven’t been able to reorganise after those two changes, and Foord is able to advance unchallenged into the area. As Spencer steps forward she rolls the ball left to Miedema, who has an open goal to complete a first-half hat-trick.
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39 mins: Arsenal keep coming, Foord drilling a shot a few inches wide of Spencer’s near post. Can Spurs hang on at least until half time?
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37 mins: Karen Hills has seen enough and makes two first-half changes. Defender Lucia Leon and forward Rosella Ayane come on, replacing Gemma Davison and Lucy Quinn.
Arsenal get a free-kick, Harrop gets a booking for her challenge. Spurs pack the box with defenders, only for McCabe to slip a pass down the right channel for Miedema. Her first-time shot, which looked to be on target, deflects off the unfortunate Kennedy and beats Spencer at the near post.
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GOAL! Arsenal 4-0 Tottenham (Miedema 36')
I was about to commend Spurs for digging in defensively in the last 10 minutes, but they switch off here and Miedema punishes them in ruthless fashion.
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Here’s the moment Vivianne Miedema became the WSL’s all-time top scorer. Fifty goals in 50 games; she’ll take some catching.
SHE'S DONE IT!@VivianneMiedema gets her 50th #BarclaysFAWSL to make it 2-0 to @ArsenalWFC! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/P7fi6BdoI8
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) October 18, 2020
31 mins: An Arsenal corner is headed away by Neville, before Kennedy almost picks out Dean with a quick through ball. At the other end, Mead latches onto a diagonal ball but skews her shot wide. Turns out she’s offside, regardless.
29 mins: For Spurs, Alanna Kennedy tries to kickstart an attack from midfield but as soon as Arsenal win the ball back they launch a quick break, Mead racing clear down the right. Her cross towards Miedema is cut out by Zadorsky.
25 mins: A rare foray upfield for Spurs leads to a free kick and a chance to put the ball in the mixer, but Harrop’s delivery floats all the way through to Arsenal keeper Zinsberger.
22 mins: Foord mishits a far-post volley, before Beth Mead tests Spencer with a low shot from distance. Spurs right-back Ashleigh Neville then gets caught ball-watching by Mead, but Spurs scramble it away.
20 mins: We cut to Alex Morgan in the stands, trying her best not to look too perturbed. I’m not sure even her presence would help Spurs here; their defence looks in trouble every time Arsenal surge forward.
18 mins: Spurs have to try and stop this becoming an embarrassment, if it isn’t already. It should have been four here, Van de Donk playing a nice diagonal to McCabe, whose low cross is turned wide by Miedema.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Tottenham (Foord 15')
They find said opening through a long ball from Leah Williamson, which Caitlin Foord latches onto. The Australian shrugs off a weak defensive challenge and rolls the ball beyond Spencer, who might have done better.
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13 mins: The game has settled down a touch after Arsenal’s ferocious start, and Spurs’ response. The hosts are knocking the ball around midfield, waiting for an opening ...
10 mins: Spurs look to respond, with a cross causing some confusion in the Arsenal defence before Rianna Dean tries a hopeful chip from 25 yards. Zinsberger acrobatically turns it over the bar. The corner, disappointingly, floats onto the roof of the net.
50 goals. 50 games. @BarclaysFAWSL top-scorer @VivianneMiedema
— Suzy Wrack (@SuzyWrack) October 18, 2020
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GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham (Miedema 7')
A second Arsenal goal, and a significant one for Vivianne Miedema, who plays a neat one-two with Van de Donk and slides the ball past Spencer from a tight angle. That’s her 50th WSL goal, taking her above Nikita Parris and top of the all-time WSL standings.
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6 mins: This is an ominous start, as far as Spurs are concerned. They simply can’t get hold of the ball, suffocated by Arsenal’s midfield pressing...
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham (McCabe 4)
And from it, Arsenal lead! Katie McCabe takes the free kick from out wide but rather than cross, she curls a shot that pings in off the far post with Spencer caught out completely.
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3 mins: Viktoria Schnaderbeck, filling in at right-back today, plays Beth Mead in but her cross is cleared as far as Lia Walti, whose shot is blocked. Schnaderbeck breaks down the wing again, and wins a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the area...
Here we go
The players take a collective knee before Spurs get the game under way.
The players are heading out onto the pitch at Meadow Park. Elsewhere, Manchester United have sealed a 4-2 away win at West Ham, while Manchester City have fallen behind at Reading - Amalie Eikeland with the opening goal.
Spurs joint-manager Karen Hills says of Alex Morgan: “It’s not really a major setback, you’ve got to remember it’s only five months since she gave birth. She’s doing really well in training, looking fitter and sharper every day. Her tweet said it all, she’s really excited to get started.”
Joe Montemurro has said the number of injuries in his squad is a concern. “We need to have a look at practices and our scheduling,” says the Arsenal manager, who is keen to maintain the team’s early-season momentum despite the lengthy list of absentees. “We know what this game means to our fans,” he concludes.
In Sunday’s early WSL games, Manchester United are 3-1 up at West Ham with Alessia Russo on the scoresheet twice for the visitors. Everton have made a 100% start to the season but fell behind at home to Brighton; Izzy Christiansen has got the hosts level at half-time.
Bristol City v Birmingham and Reading v Man City kick off at 2pm; Aston Villa’s game against Chelsea, due to be played this afternoon, was postponed after a Villa player tested positive for Covid-19.
The Arsenal bench shows the extent of their injury problems, with Joe Montemurro naming just four substitutes - two of whom, Ruby Mace and Anouk Denton, are just 17 years old. Jordan Nobbs, Kim Little, Steph Catley, Jill Roord, Noelle Maritz, Leonie Maier and Lisa Evans are all unavailable.
Team news
Arsenal (4-3-3): Zinsberger; Schnaderbeck, Williamson, Beattie, McCabe; Gut, Wälti, Van de Donk; Mead, Miedema, Foord.
Subs: Williams, Wubben-Moy, Mace, Denton.
Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Spencer; Percival, Harrop, Zadorsky, Neville; Kennedy, Quinn; Davison, Filbey, Addison; Dean.
Subs: Whitehouse, Leon, Green, Williams, Worm, Ayane, Sulola.
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to a north London derby that may have come at the wrong time for Tottenham. Spurs have picked up one point from their first four games while their local rivals have started with four wins, scoring 23 goals and already looking like serious title contenders.
Today’s game also comes too soon for Alex Morgan. Spurs’ summer signing has reported a “small setback” in her preparations for a first competitive outing in a year. Morgan has said she “can’t wait to get on the field with this team,” and you sense the feeling is mutual. She will be watching from the stands; her team must try to make it bearable viewing.
Spurs may be the underdogs today, but have been competitive in tough recent fixtures, losing by the odd goal to Everton and Manchester United. Jordan Nobbs heads an extensive Arsenal injury list, and the visitors have reason to hope this will be closer than last month’s FA Cup quarter-final, which the Gunners won 4-0. Kick-off is at 2.30pm, BST.
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