Key events
29 min: Arsenal are still dominating this north London derby but Tottenham have certainly grown into the game. Despite Arsenal’s possession, Tottenahm have had the best chances.
23 min: What a strike! Tottenham pick up the ball on the left hand side with Jessica Naz. The forward cuts inside, not too dissimilar to Thomas earlier in the half, and strikes the ball onto the crossbar. Zinsberger got a touch on the thunderous strike and it’s out for a Tottenham corner – their first of the game.
22 min: Arsenal enjoy another bright in the final third. McCabe tries to play a neat through ball to Russo but it’s too close to Spencer who comfortably collects the ball.
17 min: Tottenham have survived the early pressure and pick up the ball after a turnover in play. Within a flash, a through ball sets Martha Thomas away on the right hand side. She sprints towards the box and cleverly cuts inside to let off a left-footed shot. It’s straight at Zinsberger though.
16 min: In all fairness Vilahamn’s side we expecting a difficult opening exchange. In Friday’s press conference the manager said: “I don’t think anyone here expects us to win the game but we can if we have a great day.”
15 min: No, they can’t. Tottenham are managing to get a hold of the game as we hit the 15 minute mark.
10 min: I’ve lost count of how many corners Arsenal have won. It’s relentless pressure from the home side. Arsenal have scored a quarter (eight) of their goals in the first 15 minutes of WSL matches this season. Can they do the same again today?
8 min: Arsenal are dominating the early stages of the game. The midfield work it well to the right where Beth Mead sends in a cross. It’s blocked by a Tottenham defender and goes out for another corner.
3 min: Alessia Russo registers the first shot on target after a second Arsenal corner. It’s comfortable for Spencer in goal though. Russo then has a chance at redemption. A third corner is whipped in to the back post from the right. The ball falls to the Arsenal forward but she’s stretching and only manages to poke it wide. It’s a promising start from Arsenal.
2 min: Arsenal win an early corner but it ultimately comes to nothing. They’ll be keen to start well in front of their adoring fans.
1 min: Tottenham kick off in front of a sold out crowd at The Emirates.
Robert Vilahamn will be hoping to spoil the Arsenal party though as he indicated in his Friday press conference. “I mean we haven’t beaten them before and I think that shows what we’re capable of and shows what we want to do every game against them so I think that was a proof that we are taking steps. Then of course to beat them again would be even more nice to show the world that we are taking more steps.”
The Emirates Stadium is in fact sold out for the derby today. Eidevall is chuffed as he speaks to the BBC Sport pundits on the touchline.
Speaking in Friday’s press conference Jonas Eidevall was excited by the prospect of a sold out crowd at the Emirates Stadium today. “Yeah, I heard we have 166 tickets left so whoever can rush and be lucky and get those last tickets. It’s incredible, it’s great, and it very much shows that it’s not a one-off. It’s less than 12 months ago that we sold out the stadium for the first time for the Women’s team against Wolfsburg in the Champions League semi-final… We’re not only searching for the highs, but we’re also searching for consistency, we’re searching for sustainability, we’re searching for creating a culture at Emirates Stadium week-in, week-out, and this shows great progress in doing so.”
Three changes for the Tottenham side who lost to 2-1 to Aston Villa before the international break. The Spurs keeper Rebecca Spencer is in for Barbora Votíková. Charlotte Grant makes way for Ashleigh Neville who returns to the team after injury. Jessica Naz is also in for Bethany England.
Three changes for the Arsenal after they beat Manchester United 3-1. Cloé Lacasse, Stina Blackstenius and Sabrina D’Angelo make way for Caitlin Foord, Alessia Russo and Manuela Zinsberger. Eidevall’s team will be boosted by a Leah Williamson return from injury.
The teams
Arsenal (4-3-2-1): Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Catley, Mead, Little, Wälti, McCabe, Foord, Pelova, Russo, Codina
Subs: Williams, Bouhaddi, Williamson, Reid, Cooney-Cross, Earl, Maanum, V. Lia, Blackstenius
Tottenham (4-4-2): Spencer, Neville, Bartrip, James-Turner, Nildén, Graham, Summanen, Bizet Ildhusøy, Clinton, Naz, Thomas
Subs: Votíková, Grant, Bühler, Vinberg, Ahtinen, Spence, Petzelberger, Wang, England
Referee: Abi Byrne
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live minute by minute coverage of Arsenal v Tottenham in the Women’s Super League.
This is a chance for Arsenal to keep the pressure on Chelsea and Manchester City at the top of the table, after City’s 2-1 win over Everton yesterday. Jonas Eidevall’s side will be hoping to entertain the home fans in a packed out Emirates Stadium.
For Tottenham, it’s a chance to beat Arsenal again after a historic 1-0 victory over the Gunners 1-0 in December (their first WSL win against Arsenal). Although Tottenham sit sixth in the table, Robert Vilahamn’s side will be keen to show they’ve closed the gap between themselves and their north London rivals.
This should be a competitive north London derby, matched by a fantastic atmosphere.
Kick off 12:30pm.
