Arsenal Women continued their remarkable revival under interim manager Renee Slegers with a commanding 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Goals from Alessia Russo, Frida Maanum, and substitute Stina Blackstenius ensured the Gunners stretched their unbeaten run to six matches across all competitions since Slegers stepped in following Jonas Eidevall’s resignation last month.
The Gunners wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Russo finding the back of the net after just 63 seconds. The England striker, left unmarked, fired a precise volley into the bottom corner, marking her fifth goal of the season.
Tottenham, who have struggled defensively this season, failed to recover from the early blow. Frida Maanum capitalized on another lapse in the 22nd minute, calmly slotting home after a well-weighted pass from Kim Little to double Arsenal’s advantage.
The hosts attempted to regroup in the second half, switching to a back five to shore up their defense. However, Arsenal sliced through their resistance midway through the half with a fluid team move. Mariona Caldentey’s deft first-time pass sent Blackstenius clear, and the Swedish forward finished clinically to make it 3-0.
Despite their comfortable lead, Arsenal remained resolute defensively. Leah Williamson, making her 150th WSL appearance, showcased her leadership at the back, including a crucial clearance to deny Beth England a chance to reduce the deficit.
While Arsenal remain fourth in the Women’s Super League, just one point behind Brighton, Tottenham languish in seventh, precariously close to the relegation zone after their fifth defeat in six games. The Spurs defense, which has now conceded a league-high 21 goals, remains a glaring concern for manager Robert Vilahamn.
For Arsenal, Slegers’ tenure continues to impress. The Dutchwoman has been reluctant to discuss her future at the helm, but her ability to restore confidence and cohesion to a side that struggled earlier in the season is undeniable.
Tottenham will look to regroup as they face the league’s bottom three in their next fixtures, hoping to halt their slide and rediscover their form. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s resurgence under Slegers has put them firmly back in contention at the top of the table, with fans eagerly anticipating what lies ahead.
