By Cameron Sheath

Arsenal got their second WSL win of the season with an away win at North London Rivals Spurs, but it was far from easy going. Renee Slegers’ side were the better team on the day, as they have been on several occasions this season, but once again struggled to turn their dominance into clear-cut chances.

When you’re out of form, though, you need a bit of luck, and the Gunners will just be grateful to come away with three league points for the first time since their opening game of the season over a month ago.

First Half

After the Russo-Blackstenius partnership failed last week, Slegers ignored me this week and left Geraldine Reuteler on the bench, choosing instead to promote Caitlyn Foord and move Olivia Smith to centre forward. Taylor Hinds replaced Ona Batlle at left back, while Emily Fox returned to the starting lineup on the other end of the back line. Completing the defensive reshuffle was Steph Catley, who stepped in for Lotte Wubben-Moy.

All the changes may have played a part in Arsenal’s disjointed start, with multiple passes going out of play in the opening minutes as players continuously misread each other’s intentions. The visitors’ slow start was compounded in the 13th minute as Cathinka Tandberg met a Victoria Pelova corner at the back post, planting the ball beyond Misa Rodriguez despite being surrounded by four Arsenal bodies. 1-0.

As much as you need luck when not at your best, good old-fashioned hard work is vital, and few, if any, work harder than Alessia Russo. As Hinds and Georgia Stanway exchanged passes on the left, Russo made a typically selfless run from the edge of the box into the inside-left channel. From the bye line, the England striker turned and played a pass into the path of Stanway, who had moved into the space created by Russo’s run.

The pass met Stanway in stride and the former Bayern midfielder planted a first-time, side-footed effort high across goal, with the keeper’s fingertips only able to tip the ball into the underside of her own crossbar and in. 1-1.

Olivia Smith is definitely more effective on the wing, but her physical running was too much for Toko Koga, who was booked for dragging the Canadian international back on the break. I’d mentioned that particular match up in the preview, and it would have been nice to see Smith get more opportunities to run at the Spurs defender thereafter.

The rest of the first half went by without too much incident, as both sides struggled to keep hold of the ball and create any clear-cut opportunities. This perhaps shouldn’t have been too surprising, with a lot riding on this game for both sides.

Second Half

Arsenal started the second half strongly, winning the ball back high multiple times, having clearly been told to up the tempo and press more at half time. That aggressive approach led to the first chance of the second half, with the ball breaking for Foord through the middle. Foord played in Lisa Baum on the right, who flashed in a low cross which was met by Smith, who couldn’t turn the ball past Lize Kop under pressure.

The game was then stopped for Alice Sombath to receive treatment. The French full back was eventually stretchered off and taken straight down the tunnel, with Ella Morris replacing her.

The game soon burst into life, with Kogo driving forward impressively through the middle for Spurs. Her final pass was disappointing, though, and Arsenal broke in the opposite direction. It was Foord again who found a killer pass, this time for Russo, who forced a brilliant save from Kop; Arsenal corner.

Kyra Cooney-Cross’ corner left a lot to be desired, but Leah Williamson did well to flick a header against the near post, Baum then volleyed the rebound against the same post, before Spurs half cleared. By then, though, the game had stopped and referee Emily Heaslip was pointing to the spot.

As the ball came back off the post for the second time, Tandberg attempted to volley the ball clear, but instead volleyed into Morris’ arm, just minutes after the defender had entered the game. The ball struck Morris from point-blank range, but her arm was outstretched.

Having been denied by Kop just moments prior, Russo calmly sent the Dutch keeper the wrong way, side-footing the ball low into the bottom-left corner. 1-2.

Chances were few and far between for the remaining half an hour. Momentum swayed as Spurs racked up a number of corners, while Arsenal sporadically threatened on the break. With both sides lacking confidence, though, it’s not surprising that neither really too hold of the game.

The Gunners really lacked composure as the clock wound down, regularly wasting opportunities to keep possession. They almost paid the price in the dying moments of injury time, as substitute Elisa De Almeida overcommitted and allowed Pelova in down the right of the box. Her low cross was cut out by Cooney-Cross, right in front of Martinez, who was all alone in front of goal for a tap-in.

It turned out she was all alone because she was offside, but I left this bit in because the effort from Cooney-Cross to sprint back in the 96th minute to thwart a potential danger was outstanding and she deserves credit for it.

The final whistle followed shortly after, and there were smiles all round as the Arsenal players and coaches celebrated with the away fans, 4,000 of whom had made the short trip. It was far from a perfect performance; in places it was incredibly messy; but a gritty North London Derby win is a big result for this team in its current state.

Arsenal face Benfica in midweek before winnable games against Aston Villa and Liverpool. Tough European battles with Barcelona and Lyon then sandwich a crucial home tie with London City Lionesses, so Slegers will hope her side can build on today’s win in the coming weeks. For now, though, let’s breathe and enjoy what is a positive weekend for Arsenal’s women.