Live Blog: Spurs Women take on Arsenal in WSL North London Derby

Arsenal Women travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for their final game of 2023



Live Blog: Spurs Women take on Arsenal in WSL North London Derby

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of the North London Derby. Credit- @cardyfreddie


Live BLog Saturday Dec 16th

Please stand-by, this page will automatically update with live commentary and comments

  1. Freddie Cardy: 14:08 #3445

    Post match reaction from Jonas Eidevall to come, and player ratings will be up shortly.

  2. Freddie Cardy: 14:02 #3444

    A very first North London Derby victory for Spurs Women, and Arsenal's first defeat since the first game of the league season.

  3. Freddie Cardy: 14:02 #3443

    Full time: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Arsenal

  4. Freddie Cardy: 14:01 #3442

    90+12' Last chance for Arsenal as Mead wins a corner! Spurs clear and break, and that is an incredible last ditch tackle from Lacasse to deny Ayane. 1-0

  5. Freddie Cardy: 13:57 #3441

    90+9' Cooney-Cross gets a strong shot away and it's blocked, before Catley goes down in the box asking for a penalty. The referee says no.

  6. Freddie Cardy: 13:55 #3440

    90+7' Russo turns and chips the ball into the box, where it is headed clear. Four minutes of added time remain. 1-0

  7. Freddie Cardy: 13:55 #3439

    90+7' Lacasse drives down the right, crosses into the back of Neville and Arsenal have a corner. 1-0

  8. Freddie Cardy: 13:53 #3438

    90+5' Rosella Ayane comes on for Celine Bizet. 1-0

  9. Freddie Cardy: 13:52 #3437

    90+4' Bizet wriggles her way through the Arsenal defence and Ilestedt clears her cutback. The midfielder is now down injured. 1-0

  10. Freddie Cardy: 13:50 #3436

    90+1 Miedema is on the end of Lacasse's cross and hooks the ball high and wide- a difficult effort. 1-0

  11. Freddie Cardy: 13:49 #3435

    90+1' ELEVEN added minutes following the medical emergency. 1-0

  12. Freddie Cardy: 13:48 #3434

    90' Cloe Lacasse comes on for Katie McCabe- she knows how to deliver a late equaliser. 1-0

  13. Freddie Cardy: 13:45 #3433

    87' Ilestedt comes close with another header, over the top of the bar. 1-0

  14. Freddie Cardy: 13:45 #3432

    86' Play will now resume with a Spurs goal kick. Are thoughts are with those who were affected in that medical emergency. 1-0

  15. Freddie Cardy: 13:43 #3431

    85' A change for Spurs as Ria Percival comes on for goalscorer Martha Thomas. 1-0

  16. Freddie Cardy: 13:42 #3430

    83' The physios have gone into the away end to attend to an incident in the crowd, after fans and players had signalled for their help. 1-0

  17. Freddie Cardy: 13:40 #3429

    82' Appeals for an Arsenal penalty are short-lived after Foord went down under pressure from two defenders- the ball had already beaten her and was flying behind for a goal kick. 1-0

  18. Freddie Cardy: 13:38 #3428

    80' Stina Blackstenius comes on for Lia Walti. 1-0

  19. Freddie Cardy: 13:34 #3427

    76' Another cross, another header, another miss. Mead again towards the back post but Russo's effort doesn't find the target. 1-0

  20. Freddie Cardy: 13:32 #3426

    74' Mead floats in an excellent corner and it's headed wide by Ilestedt- what a chance for Arsenal. 1-0

  21. Freddie Cardy: 13:32 #3425

    74' Catley cuts inside and sees her shot blocked. 1-0

  22. Freddie Cardy: 13:30 #3424

    72' Arsenal have a free kick high on the right wing. Catley crosses and Votikova claims. 1-0

  23. Freddie Cardy: 13:28 #3423

    70' A very blatant bit of timewasting from goalkeeper Votikova, who is promptly booked by the referee. 1-0

  24. Freddie Cardy: 13:27 #3422

    69' Arsenal Women have never lost a game to Spurs in their history... Cooney-Cross tries to keep that run going but her hooked shot doesn't trouble Votikova. 1-0

  25. Freddie Cardy: 13:24 #3421

    66' Pelova and Maanum are the players withdrawn by Jonas Eidevall. 1-0

  26. Freddie Cardy: 13:23 #3420

    65' Miedema and Cooney-Cross are being readied to come on for Arsenal. 1-0

  27. Freddie Cardy: 13:22 #3419

    63' Wubben-Moy receives the first yellow card of the North London Derby for a foul on Thomas. 1-0

  28. Freddie Cardy: 13:21 #3418

    63' Given away by Turner and Maanum sees her shot blocked. 1-0

  29. Freddie Cardy: 13:19 #3417

    61' Headed away before Pelova gets a cross back in. Russo connects acrobatically and her shot is saved. 1-0

  30. Freddie Cardy: 13:18 #3416

    60' It's a goal that could not have come more agains the run of play, so Arsenal have to keep creating these chances. They have a corner. 1-0

  31. Freddie Cardy: 13:17 #3415

    58' Goal! Spurs 1-0 Arsenal: Bizet gets into the box and squares for Thomas, who finds the bottom corner to net her seventh WSL goal of the season. 1-0

  32. Freddie Cardy: 13:15 #3414

    56' Not too far away from Frida Maanum- her shot skims the top of the net from the left hand side. 0-0

  33. Freddie Cardy: 13:13 #3413

    55' Pelova does well and finds Maanum, who shoots straight at the goalkeeper. Chances are plentiful for Arsenal at the start of this second half. 0-0

  34. Freddie Cardy: 13:12 #3412

    54' McCabe's long-range effort stings the palms of Votikova, who collides with her teammate James after making the save. 0-0

  35. Freddie Cardy: 13:09 #3411

    50' Russo heads wide from close range, and she should have done better! Great cross from Mead to set her up. 0-0

  36. Freddie Cardy: 13:07 #3410

    49' Walti skips away from Naz and drills the ball into Russo who lays it off for Maanum. Her strike is saved well by Votikova, before McCabe shoots over the bar from the resulting corner.

  37. Freddie Cardy: 13:03 #3409

    46' The second half is underway! 0-0

  38. Freddie Cardy: 13:02 #3408

    Beth England is withdrawn at half time, replaced by Jessica Naz.

  39. Freddie Cardy: 13:01 #3407

    Here come Spurs, first out for the second half.

  40. Freddie Cardy: 12:48 #3406

    Definitely not the prettiest of North London Derbies so far. Foord and Maanum have come closest to breaking the deadlock for Arsenal.

  41. Freddie Cardy: 12:48 #3405

    Half time: Tottenham 0-0 Arsenal.

  42. Freddie Cardy: 12:47 #3404

    45+2' Again Foord shifts the ball onto her right foot but shoots over the crossbar. 0-0

  43. Freddie Cardy: 12:45 #3403

    45+1' Three minutes of added time. 0-0

  44. Freddie Cardy: 12:44 #3402

    45' Clever from Pelova who picks up the ball on the edge of the box from a corner routine and tries to lob Votikova, who is up to the task. 0-0

  45. Freddie Cardy: 12:42 #3401

    42' Maanum draws a good save from Votikova, diving to her left to palm away a strong shot. 0-0

  46. Freddie Cardy: 12:40 #3400

    40' Good chance for Foord at the back post after she was played through by Maanum- Pelova was in the middle but Foord went alone and missed the target. 0-0

  47. Freddie Cardy: 12:39 #3399

    39' The first Tottenham shot in anger for a good while as Kit Graham shanks a half-volley wide from a very long way out. 0-0

  48. Freddie Cardy: 12:38 #3398

    38' Better again from Spurs as Wubben-Moy has to get a strong head to Bizet's cross. 0-0

  49. Freddie Cardy: 12:36 #3397

    37' Bizet crosses from the right and it skims the roof of the net, watched all the way by Zinsberger. 0-0

  50. Freddie Cardy: 12:36 #3396

    37' Still very little to report from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as both sides continue to frustrate each other in a tense affair. 0-0

  51. Freddie Cardy: 12:32 #3395

    33' Foord's cross evades Russo and is headed away. Arsenal lacking the numbers forward and that sharpness around the box. 0-0

  52. Freddie Cardy: 12:31 #3394

    31' Biggest cheer of the afternoon as Walti and then Russo are penalised for fouls in quick succession. Bartrip wastes the free kick though, picking out the hands of Zinsberger. 0-0

  53. Freddie Cardy: 12:27 #3393

    27' Neville comes forward but Ilestedt is there to halt Spurs' attack- she has been solid so far. 0-0

  54. Freddie Cardy: 12:24 #3392

    25' Spurs will just be the happier of the two teams midway through the first half, limiting Arsenal's chances so far with the exception of Foord hitting the post. 0-0

  55. Freddie Cardy: 12:21 #3391

    22' Mead slips around Neville and goes down just inside the box. No penalty says Cheryl Foster. 0-0

  56. Freddie Cardy: 12:18 #3390

    19' Spurs will be forced into an early change here- Bizet is good to continue after the tackle from Walti, but Buhler has to be replaced by Turner. 0-0

  57. Freddie Cardy: 12:17 #3389

    17' Off the post from Foord! Walti with a strong tackle on Bizet before releasing Foord down the left- she cuts inside and arrows an effort onto the far post. 0-0

  58. Freddie Cardy: 12:15 #3388

    16' Deep cross from Catley which Foord couldn't divert on target. 0-0

  59. Freddie Cardy: 12:14 #3387

    15' McCabe is fouled by Neville on Arsenal's right. Catley's free-kick is headed away before crosses from Mead and McCabe are dealt with. 0-0

  60. Freddie Cardy: 12:12 #3386

    13' Mead goes short to Catley who digs out a cross to the back post, where Russo heads wide. 0-0

  61. Freddie Cardy: 12:12 #3385

    12' Foord is afforded some time on the edge of the box and her shot is deflected behind for a corner. 0-0

  62. Freddie Cardy: 12:10 #3384

    11' England threads through Thomas who is forced away from goal by Catley, before Walti clears. 0-0

  63. Freddie Cardy: 12:08 #3383

    9' Russo wins the ball on the left and cuts it back for Foorf, who can only foul Petzelberger in the box. 0-0

  64. Freddie Cardy: 12:07 #3382

    7' England gets in behind and shoots straight at Zinsberger after she was played through by Thomas. 0-0

  65. Freddie Cardy: 12:05 #3381

    6' Mead gives away a free-kick in the Spurs half but Arsenal win the ball back. Catley and Walti exchange passes before a cross finds the hands of Votikova. 0-0

  66. Freddie Cardy: 12:02 #3380

    3' Arsenal enjoying possession and looking to use the full width of the pitch so far. 0-0

  67. Freddie Cardy: 12:00 #3379

    1' Underway! 0-0

  68. Freddie Cardy: 11:59 #3378

    Spurs will kick us off, in their white home strip. Arsenal are in their red.

  69. Freddie Cardy: 11:58 #3377

    Arsenal go into their pre-match huddle whilst Spurs go through some sprints and running on the touchline.

  70. Freddie Cardy: 11:55 #3376

    The teams are in the tunnel! It's Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal in the Women's Super League, and we've got all of the action to come on our Gooner Fanzine live blog, plus player ratings and post match reaction.

  71. Freddie Cardy: 11:51 #3375

    Ange Postecoglou and Daniel Levy are in attendance for this North London Derby!

  72. Freddie Cardy: 11:48 #3374

    The teams are back down the tunnel into the dressing rooms for the final pre-match preparations.

  73. Freddie Cardy: 11:42 #3373

    Arsenal have sold out their away allocation at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this afternoon, with 3,000 Gooners in the far corner and plenty more around the ground.

  74. Freddie Cardy: 11:37 #3372

    England international Bethany England returns to Spurs' starting eleven this afternoon, and will pose a significant threat upfront in tandem with Martha Thomas, who was too good for Arsenal's defence at times in midweek.

  75. Freddie Cardy: 11:34 #3371

    Spurs have never beaten Arsenal Women in the club's history, having only been promoted to the WSL for the first time in 2019.

  76. Freddie Cardy: 11:30 #3370

    Spurs will remain in sixth whatever the result, but can go level on points with 5th-placed Liverpool if they take all three points.

  77. Freddie Cardy: 11:27 #3369

    Avoid defeat today, and Arsenal will move top of the WSL before Chelsea play Bristol City on Sunday.

  78. Freddie Cardy: 11:23 #3368

    Spurs manager Robert Vilahamn's programme notes, discussing Wednesday's draw with Arsenal: "We played some really good football, attacking football, we dared to play out from the back, we dared to play through their press, we created some really nice chances and scored three beautiful goals."

  79. Freddie Cardy: 11:18 #3367

    Both sides have raced out of the tunnel to begin their warmups at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

  80. Freddie Cardy: 11:15 #3366

    Arsenal came from behind on three occasions to draw 3-3 on Wednesday, before winning 4-3 on penalties to take home a bonus point, and move top of Conti Cup Group D.

  81. Freddie Cardy: 11:10 #3365

    Just one change for Tottenham from the side that drew 3-3 with Arsenal in the Conti Cup on Wednesday night.

  82. Freddie Cardy: 11:08 #3364

    Ellie Brazil is back in the squad for Spurs, who are without Linyan Zhang, Drew Spence, Olga Ahtinen and Eveliina Summanen.

  83. Freddie Cardy: 11:04 #3363

    The headline team news for Arsenal is that captain Kim Little doesn't make the Gunners' squad, after limping off injured against Chelsea.

  84. Freddie Cardy: 11:04 #3362

    Arsenal subs: D'Angelo, Beattie, Codina, Maritz, Cooney-Cross, Kuhl, Miedema, Lacasse, Blackstenius.

  85. Freddie Cardy: 11:03 #3361

    Spurs subs: Spencer, Zadorsky, Turner, Ale, Percival, Brazil, Pearse, Ayane, Naz.

  86. Freddie Cardy: 11:02 #3360

    Arsenal: Zinsberger; Catley, Wubben-Moy, Ilestedt, McCabe; Walti, Pelova, Maanum; Foord, Russo, Mead.

  87. Freddie Cardy: 11:01 #3359

    Spurs: Votikova, James, Buhler, Bartrip, Neville, Petzelberger, Graham, Thomas, Bizet, Clinton, England.

  88. Freddie Cardy: 11:00 #3358

    Team news is in...

  89. Freddie Cardy: 10:55 #3357

    Expect a similar starting eleven to the one which thumped Chelsea at the Emirates this afternoon. Arsenal fans are already making their way into the away end, and the DJ just to the left of the press box is attempting to start something of an atmosphere.

  90. Freddie Cardy: 10:51 #3356

    Arsenal made ten changes to the side that beat Chelsea 4-1 when they took on Spurs in the Conti Cup in midweek, with Katie McCabe the only player to keep her place.

  91. Freddie Cardy: 10:46 #3355

    Team news is less than 15 minutes away at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

  92. Freddie Cardy: 10:44 #3354

    Good morning, and it's an early start for me once again! Welcome to the final Arsenal Women live blog of 2023, and what a game we have in store to end it on.


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