Arsenal End Five-Match Winless Run as Alessia Russo Sinks Tottenham in North London Derby

Arsenal delivered a much-needed result, coming from behind to defeat Tottenham 2-1 in the north London derby and ending their five-match winless run in the WSL. The victory marked the first time the Gunners had overturned a deficit to win a league match since September 2025, when they defeated West Ham 5-1.

Having entered the weekend in the bottom half of the table, Arsenal will hope the result represents a turning point in what has been an underwhelming start to their campaign. They now sit sixth, although the performance itself was far from assuring and the question marks surrounding Renée Slegers will not yet disappear.

Spurs Squander a Rare Lead

The task was far from easy, and Tottenham initially threatened to compound their rivals' difficulties, taking the lead in this fixture for only the third time in WSL history. It was their first such occasion since December 2023, when they also recorded their only league victory against Arsenal in the fixture.

However, Spurs ultimately squandered their lead, losing a WSL match after scoring the opening goal for the first time since March 2023 when they were defeated by Liverpool, ending a run of 30 such league matches.

Nervy Moments for the Gunners

Arsenal had to navigate several nervy moments. The Gunners made two errors leading to shots in the first half, a tally they have exceeded only once in their WSL history, when they made three against Man City in September 2017.

Spurs demonstrated their capacity to penetrate Arsenal's defensive lines, with the Gunners again looking susceptible in transition. This was exploited by former Gunner Victoria Pelova, who completed six dribbles, the highest total recorded by any player in a WSL match this season.

Russo and Stanway Deliver on the Fine Margins

Nevertheless, it was the fine margins that ultimately made the difference in a relatively scrappy affair. Alessia Russo, although in her less favoured CAM role, scored and assisted in a WSL match for only the fifth time in her career. Her second-half penalty to edge past Martin Ho's side means the England international has now scored nine WSL goals against Tottenham, more than against any other opponent.

The contest also provided a milestone for Georgia Stanway, who opened her Arsenal account in sublime fashion, while it was her first ever goal against Tottenham.

There were also encouraging signs for Arsenal in their wide areas. Caitlin Foord and Taylor Hinds both made their first league starts of the season, combining effectively with Foord winning 16 duels – more than any other player this weekend. Her willingness to compete for every ball highlighted the grit Arsenal will need to navigate the less polished, more attritional games over the course of a season.

For Arsenal, the result may provide some much-needed breathing room. However, given their defensive lapses and the considerable pressure that preceded the fixture, the victory is best viewed as a welcome reprieve against their worst ever form in the WSL.