Alessia Russo’s first-half hat-trick guided Arsenal to an emphatic 5-2 North London Derby victory over Tottenham in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Saturday.
Two goals from the England international inside the opening ten minutes at the Emirates Stadium put the Gunners in complete control, and while a Frida Maanum own goal gave Spurs a fighting chance, Russo pounced upon a Lize Kop mistake to restore the two-goal cushion before the break.
Advertisement
Caitlin Foord netted her first goal in the Women’s Super League since September to extend Arsenal’s advantage after the break, while Beth England tucked home Spurs’ second on her 200th appearance in the competition.
Inside six minutes of stoppage time, Stina Blackstenius rolled home Arsenal’s fifth to cap off a five-star performance.
Mathematically, Arsenal still remain in the title race – but Manchester City’s sizeable points advantage means that the title could be wrapped up as soon as Sunday 26 April.
As it happened
Arsenal wasted no time pushing for an early goal in North London on Saturday, with momentum high following their midweek UEFA Champions League victory against local rivals Chelsea.
Advertisement
The breakthrough arrived with just five minutes on the clock at the Emirates Stadium, with Katie McCabe’s corner from the right nodded home by Alessia Russo for her 17th goal of the season across all competitions.
And the 27-year-old doubled their lead swiftly after, as shambolic defending from the visitors allowed Olivia Smith to split the back line with a through ball. Russo latched on, rounding Lize Kop to pick out the far corner just 114 seconds after netting the opener.
With the current fastest hat-trick in the Barclays Women’s Super League scored in 12 minutes 37 seconds by Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw – also against Tottenham – Russo came close to breaking that record from inside the penalty area, although she couldn’t quite ripple the back of the net from Frida Maanum’s cutback.
Martin Ho’s Spurs were able to clinch a goal back in dramatic fashion from a corner when Amanda Nildén nodded the delivery towards the back post, where it was inadvertently turned past the goalkeeper by Maanum.
Advertisement
But if Tottenham had been given a sliver of hope with that goal, it was quickly dashed by the Gunners who restored their two-goal cushion before the half-hour mark through none other than Russo. Once again, poor defending from the Lilywhites saw Kop receive a pass from Molly Bartrip and play it directly into the feet of the Arsenal forward, who pounced upon the opportunity to complete her first WSL hat-trick as an Arsenal player.
The England international could have found a fourth before the break when Maanum flicked the ball through for her to surge towards goal, although a fine intervention from Tōko Koga forced a corner on that occasion.
Renée Slegers’ Arsenal did eventually get their fourth goal of the evening shortly after the hour mark, with Caitlin Foord impressing at the back post to take down Smilla Holmberg’s cross, shift past her defender and rifle home a fierce effort at the near post for her first goal in the WSL since September 2025.
Spurs came close to clawing another goal back but for a fine save from Daphne van Domselaar, who leapt dramatically to deny a Beth England header seemingly destined for the back of the net – and she did the same from the resulting corner.
Advertisement
But on her 200th WSL appearance, the Tottenham striker was not to be denied for long. Matilda Vinberg’s deft touch to create space inside the box allowed the forward to thrash an effort across van Domselaar, who this time couldn’t quite conjure up a save.
It proved not enough to inspire a dramatic comeback, with the Gunners instead capping off a five-star performance inside stoppage time courtesy of a Stina Blackstenius strike. The result keeps Arsenal – mathematically, at least – with an outside chance of claiming the Barclays Women’s Super League title, though that would require an inexplicable drop in form from the current runaway leaders Manchester City.
For now, though, their attention turns to the second leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea in midweek – with Tottenham also set to face the Blues on Easter Monday in Adobe Women’s FA Cup action.
