Arsenal Fail To Break Down Tottenham In Wsl Derby Stalemate

Arsenal grounded to capitalise connected nan chance to move up to third, dropping points for nan 5th clip this play successful a bitterly disappointing 0-0 tie pinch their northbound London rivals Tottenham.

The Gunners had desperately needed a triumph to support immoderate pretence of being title contenders, but contempt their power astatine Brisbane Road, they could not break done nan well-marshalled Spurs protect structure.

Renée Slegers had said Arsenal’s midweek collapse from 2-0 up to a 3-2 defeat against Bayern Munich “should be” a catalyst for change, pinch nan Gunners having besides endured a frustrating 1-1 tie pinch Chelsea successful their erstwhile convention outing. “We person to get back, we will get back,” nan head had promised, but that turnaround did not travel against Tottenham.

Their title aspirations were dented astatine nan Emirates Stadium past weekend, and their Champions League defence took a deed successful midweek, but results elsewhere had fallen kindly pinch some Manchester United and Chelsea dropping points.

The ambiance astatine Brisbane Road for nan northbound London derby was electric, a grounds attendance of 6,788 group for Tottenham women astatine Leyton Orient’s ground. This was nan 12th gathering of nan 2 northbound London sides successful nan Women’s Super League, pinch Arsenal ascendant pinch 9 wins to Tottenham’s solo triumph and 1 tie betwixt them. Despite nan hefty grounds against Tottenham, this fixture presented a large trial pinch Spurs thriving nether caller head Martin Ho and level connected points pinch their rivals going into nan crippled connected Sunday.

That aided nan tense and aggravated environment, nan guidelines of Arsenal fans down Daphne van Domselaar’s extremity embarked connected their ain large rendition of anthem North London Forever soon aft kick-off earlier nan location support attempted to drown them out. It felt for illustration a derby of consequence, for possibly nan first time.

The location squad edged possession successful nan first half, but it was Arsenal that created more, though nary were gilt-edged, pinch Kyra Cooney-Cross, nan only alteration to nan starting XI for Bayern, firing wide and Alessia Russo besides putting nan shot past nan post.

Changes came for nan visiting squad astatine nan break, Beth Mead and Katie McCabe switched retired for nan summertime signings Taylor Hinds and Olivia Smith.

Smith’s effect was instant, her gait caused issues for left-back Amanda Nilden and a powerful onslaught from a tight perspective was pushed distant by Lize Kop arsenic Tottenham’s resilient protect building shook a small but was not broken.

It was each Arsenal successful nan 2nd half and reddish shirts relentlessly pounding astatine nan achromatic wall but to nary avail, large chances lacking.

Two large tests of Arsenal’s beingness and intelligence mettle await adjacent week, arsenic they big Real Madrid successful nan Champions League adjacent earlier welcoming Liverpool to nan Emirates, pinch Gareth Taylor’s broadside boosted by a 1-1 tie pinch Chelsea connected Sunday.