Alessia Russo shines as Arsenal crush Tottenham in north London derby

Arsenal dominate Tottenham 5-0 to keep Women's Super League hopes alive.

Alessia Russo of Arsenal celebrates after scoring her team's fourth goal during the Barclays Women's Super League match against Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium in London, England, on February 16, 2025. Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images

By Randy Ahmad

Arsenal delivered a commanding performance in the Women's Super League on Saturday, crushing north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium. The dominant victory, which saw standout performances from Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey, provided a much-needed boost to Arsenal’s fading title ambitions.

The Gunners wasted no time exploiting weaknesses in Spurs' defense, taking the lead in the 14th minute. A dangerous cross from Kyra Cooney-Cross found Russo, whose slight touch caused Clare Hunt to turn the ball into her own net. Arsenal’s relentless pressure continued, and in the 35th minute, Caldentey doubled their advantage with a clinical finish into the bottom corner, leaving Spurs goalkeeper Lize Kop with no chance.

Tottenham struggle as Arsenal take control

Despite going into halftime with a two-goal deficit, Spurs showed little sign of a comeback. Arsenal resumed their dominance just six minutes into the second half when Frida Maanum’s deflected strike from the edge of the box extended the lead to 3-0.

As Tottenham pushed forward in desperation, they left themselves vulnerable to counterattacks. Arsenal took full advantage in the 58th minute when Caitlin Foord broke away with space to run and set up Russo, who calmly slotted home from the right side of the box. The goal sealed a brilliant individual performance for Russo, who was named player of the match.

Just when Spurs thought their nightmare couldn’t get any worse, Arsenal defender Emily Fox capped off the rout with a stunning long-range strike in the 72nd minute. Her first Women's Super League goal came from 25 yards out and perfectly rounded off Arsenal’s emphatic win.

Chloe Kelly returns but misses out on dream comeback

On-loan England forward Chloe Kelly made her long-awaited return for Arsenal, appearing for the club for the first time in 2,815 days. She nearly marked the occasion with a goal, but her powerful effort struck the crossbar, denying her a fairytale comeback.

While Arsenal’s victory keeps them third in the WSL standings, they remain eight points behind leaders Chelsea. With only a few games left in the season, their title hopes remain slim but mathematically possible. Meanwhile, Tottenham sit in sixth place with 17 points, struggling to find consistency in their campaign.

Arsenal’s title challenge: Can they close the gap?

Despite the commanding victory, Arsenal still face an uphill battle in their pursuit of the WSL title. Chelsea’s grip on the top spot remains firm, but the Gunners will look to build on their momentum in the final stretch of the season.

Manager Jonas Eidevall praised his team’s performance, emphasizing their attacking fluidity and defensive solidity. "It was a complete performance today. We played with confidence, pressed aggressively, and took our chances," he said post-match.

For Spurs, the heavy defeat raises questions about their defensive frailties. Manager Robert Vilahamn acknowledged the struggles, stating, "We made too many mistakes, and against a team like Arsenal, you get punished."

With the WSL title race heating up, Arsenal will need to maintain this level of dominance in their remaining fixtures if they hope to challenge Chelsea. Meanwhile, Tottenham must regroup quickly to avoid slipping further down the table.