Highlights: Arsenal come from behind to beat rivals Tottenham in the WSL

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Arsenal came from behind to beat Spurs in a high-stakes north London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Pressure had been building on their manager Renee Slegers with her side failing to win any of their previous five matches in the Women's Super League, and just one this season.

But they did enough to come away with a crucial three points after Alessia Russo's penalty put them 2-1 up early in the second half.

Referee Phoebe Cross pointed to the spot when Lisa Baum's shot bounced off the post and Cathinka Tandberg's clearance hit her Spurs team-mate Ella Morris' hand.

England midfielder Georgia Stanway had cancelled out Norwegian Tandberg's 13th-minute opener with Tottenham leading for just four minutes.

It had been a deserved lead for Spurs, who were the better team in the opening period and looked comfortable defending in a low block.

They frustrated Arsenal, who have struggled to convert chances this season, but created very little aside from Stanway's powerful strike from the edge of the box.

It teed up an intriguing second half, but a serious injury to Tottenham's record signing Alice Sombath sobered the mood shortly after the restart.

That seemed to impact the hosts, who conceded shortly afterwards when Russo slotted her penalty past goalkeeper Lize Kop, moments after being denied from close range.

It was not a performance that suggested the Gunners have overcome recent problems, but it could prove to be the catalyst they need to boost confidence and start a winning run.

Victory still left them in sixth place, trailing league leaders Manchester City by nine points, with the defending champions visiting Manchester United on Sunday.

Arsenal analysis: Relief for Slegers

Pressure had ramped up on Slegers in the build-up to the derby following their recent struggles - and their only previous WSL win coming at Brighton on 6 September.

They started the day four points off their north London rivals and sitting in the bottom half of the table - an unfamiliar feeling for a side that won the Champions League in 2025.

Arsenal's biggest issue this season has been their lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and inability to take their chances.

But it was an even more concerning start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they looked devoid of confidence.

Too many passes were misplaced, too many gaps were left in midfield and sloppy individual errors led to Tandberg's opener.

A response was needed which Stanway provided, but it didn't initially give Arsenal the boost expected.

It was instead a nervous crawl until half-time, which was much needed, and it was only after the break did they show more grit.

Russo missed a huge chance when goalkeeper Kop made an excellent close-range save, but the England striker put it right from 12 yards just moments later.

She celebrated passionately, sprinting over to the away fans in the corner and was joined by her team-mates, who reminded each other to stay calm and focused.

It was a potentially controversial winner as Morris was close to Tandberg when the ball struck her outstretched hand from the clearance.

However, Arsenal will welcome some much-needed fortune and a result that helped ease the pressure on Slegers.

'Sometimes you need luck' - Should Arsenal's penalty have been given?

Tottenham analysis: Gritty display but no reward

This was a real opportunity for Tottenham to snatch points in a north London derby with Arsenal wounded by their poor start to the campaign and Spurs in fourth spot.

Having suffered heavy defeats by London City Lionesses and Chelsea in their previous two matches, conceding 12 goals in the process, the hosts themselves needed a response.

Their high-risk football has helped them climb the table and become a recognised challenger for the top four, but they still need to take the next step to compete with the WSL's elite.

Manager Martin Ho adapted their approach on Saturday, tightening up at the back and playing in a lower block than usual - copying the successful blueprint many teams have used against Arsenal this term.

It worked a treat in the first half as they won possession inside their half, earned a corner through ex-Arsenal midfielder Victoria Pelova and Tandberg's thumping header put them in front.

Despite Arsenal's speedy response, Spurs quickly settled again and made things uncomfortable for Slegers' side until half-time.

But a serious injury to French defender Sombath, who was taken off on a stretcher shortly after the break, dampened the home side's spirits and Arsenal capitalised through Russo.

Spurs continued to compete and were still in the game up until the final whistle but could not create enough problems to threaten the visitors.

While it may be viewed as a missed opportunity, Ho's side will be enthused by their ability to stay in the game having struggled defensively in recent weeks.

Player of the match

A. Russo
7.37
23 V. Pelova
6.98
1 L. Kop
6.38
9 C. Tandberg
6.20
41 J. Blakstad
5.91
32 T. Koga
5.83
24 D. Spence
5.83
4 C. Dijkstra
5.77
8 S. Gaupset
5.73
13 M. Vinberg
5.61
5 A. Sombath
5.53
16 K. Hanson
5.38
25 E. Summanen
5.30
11 O. Holdt
5.10
19 S. Martinez
4.98
3 E. Morris
4.90
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