Three Things We Learned from Arsenal’s 5-0 North London Derby Victory

Here's the brilliant Izzy Gilligan on Three Things We Learned after AWFC dominated Spurs once again 

An exciting Sunday at the Emirates Stadium saw Arsenal women dominantly dispatch North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a ruthless 5-0 victory.

Goals from Alessia Russo, Frida Maanum, Mariona Caldentey and Emily Fox secured three points for the Gunners and ensured that North London remains red.

Here are the three things we learned from the win.

1 - North London is Red

After yet another emphatic victory in this fixture, bringing the season’s aggregate score to 8-0 – it’s fair to say that North London belongs to the Gunners.

This rivalry that is steeped in history has seen Spurs claim victories in past seasons, but this year, they were no match for Renée Slegers’ side.

Tottenham crumbled after Arsenal’s first goal and struggled to withstand the relentless attacking waves.

Arsenal were unpredictable, with four different goal scorers on the sheet, including defender Emily Fox who scored her first WSL goal, a screamer from outside the box. This made defending nearly impossible due to goals coming from all over the pitch.

Meanwhile, Spurs were unable to take advantage of any counterattacking opportunities they had and rarely showed much promise in front of goal.

2 - When Alessia Russo is in Form, She Should Play as the No9

This season has seen Russo take her game to the next level, regularly getting on the scoresheet and playing a key role in Arsenal’s attacking play. However, a recent stint wider position seemed to stifle her form, leaving Gooners questioning whether it was the right tactical move.

Sunday’s performance, though, put any doubts to rest. Back in her natural number 9 role, Russo was a constant menace in the box, registering multiple attempts on goal and capping off her display with a powerful finish to put Arsenal 4-0 up.

Her movement, link-up play, and ability to find space were instrumental in the team’s attacking fluidity.

Manager Slegers, who described Russo as a “fantastic footballer”, will now face growing calls to keep her in this central role, where she can continue to thrive.

3 - Women’s Football is Massive

Sunday’s clash saw the biggest WSL crowd of the season, with an official attendance of 56,784 announced after half-time. In a month where some high-profile figures in sports broadcasting have questioned the popularity of women’s football, this was a powerful statement.

Not only was this the second highest attended game in English football across the entire weekend – surpassed by only one Premier League fixture – but it also reinforced that the growth of the women’s game isn’t just sustainable, it’s accelerating.

Arsenal continue to lead the charge, consistently drawing the largest crowds and setting the standard for the rest of the league.

With the Gunners at the forefront, it’s clear that women’s football isn’t just growing, it’s thriving.

We are delighted to reveal the first ever Gooner Fanzine print edition dedicated to Arsenal Women! ?Featuring interviews with Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo and Renée Slegers, and packed full of content from our team of AWFC writers and creatives ?? pic.twitter.com/J9s4Hq6Hvk

— The Gooner (@GoonerFanzine) February 13, 2025