Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Holmberg, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona; Smith, Maanum, Kelly; Russo
Substitutes: Borbe, Votikova, Fox, Codina, Hinds, Pelova, Mead, Foord, Blackstenius
Alessia Russo scored a 22-minute hat trick as Arsenal beat Tottenham 5-2 at the Emirates Stadium.
Renée Slegers made five changes to the team that beat Chelsea in midweek. Daphne van Domselaar returned to goal, with Anneke Borbe dropping to the bench, while Smila Holmberg, Steph Catley, Olivia Smith, and Frida Maanum all came into the lineup. Emily Fox, Laia Codina, Beth Mead, and Stina Blackstenius dropped to the bench, which was also strengthened by the return of Caitlin Foord to the squad.
Tottenham started with the majority of possession but on 4 minutes Arsenal counter-pressed well. Smith won the ball, Kelly and Russo combined in the centre, and Russo drove on before seeing her shot blocked by Bartrip.
From the ensuing corner, on 5 minutes, McCabe’s delivery was put right on the 6-yard line, Russo got free, and headed her shot into the ground and into the goal. 1-0.
Two minutes later it was two. Mariona found Smith between the lines and she played Russo through, with Nilden keeping her onside. Russo rounded Kop, and then slotted into the corner with the post and net, behind Koga. 2-0.
Hamano looked to create something for Spurs on 12 minutes, but her left footed cross was easy for Van Domselaar to claim.
Russo could’ve had a hat trick on 16 minutes. Maanum was found from a throw, turned, and passed to Russo in the box. She took a touch and shot but straight at Kop.
From a corner, Arsenal saw two shots blocked. The ball broke kindly for Hamano to counter, and she was ahead of Arsenal’s last two outfield players but Little caught her up on the halfway line and won the ball back.
Gaupset played a brilliant ball across the box that went past McCabe and Van Domselaar, but also Tandberg as Spurs began to threaten.
On 20 minutes, Spurs got a goal back. The corner was flicked by Vinberg and then headed into her own goal by Maanum under pressure from Tandberg. 2-1.
Tottenham, though, as they are wont to do, gave Russo her hat trick on 27 minutes. The ball was passed back to Kop. Russo began to press, and Kop, looking for Koga in the middle, passed straight to her. Russo took a touch and slotted past Kop. 3-1.
Russo was played in over the top by a Catley long ball and Maanum header but Koga got a toe on her shot to deflect it behind for a corner.
Smith was booked for delaying the restart on 38 minutes. A minute later she was sandwiched as she looked to counter with Nilden also booked.
Hamano and Gaupset almost pulled off a one-two on the edge of the Arsenal box but McCabe intercepted.
Four minutes were added on at the end of the first half.
Russo had another chance in stoppage time, as the ball sat nicely for her on the edge of the box but Bartrip got a touch on the shot and Kop saved.
Catilin Foord replaced Olivia Smith at the start of the second half.
Spurs started the second half well, with Hamano neatly playing out to Wijk on the right hand side. Her low ball into box found Tandberg, but she shot weakly wide under pressure from Wubben-Moy.
Tandberg found by Wijk in the channel, had a shot, with Wubben-Moy blocking it out for a corner. Tottenham went short and worked the ball into the penalty box, but Van Domselaar easily gathered.
Arsenal made a further two changes on 57 minutes. Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius replaced Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo.
Arsenal extended their lead on 61 minutes. From a throw in, Blackstenius held the ball up in the corner and then hooked it back to Mead, who flicked to Holmberg. She hit a deep cross, Foord took a heavy touch to control and then fired a shot past Kop at her near post. 4-1.
Victoria Pelova replaced Mariona Caldentey on 68 minutes.
Van Domselaar was called into action on 72 minutes. Nilden drove forward and crossed for Beth England, whose deft header looked to potentially catch the goalkeeper out but Van Domselaar reached back and palmed the header around the post. From the ensuing corner, England met the cross and headed again but Van Domselaar easily saved.
Pelova was fouled by Nilden right on the edge of the box. McCabe took the free kick and looked to place it but Kop got a hand and pushed it over the bar.
England pulled a goal back for Tottenham on 78 minutes. A long ball from Wijk found Vinberg. She laid the ball off for England, in too much space between Catley and McCabe, who fired a shot through Van Domselaar’s hands. 4-2.
Tottenham were making a game of it now, and England held the ball up for Gaupset, whose shot was blocked by Wubben-Moy.
Laia Codina replaced Kim Little on 87 minutes, with Codina going into midfield.
On 90 minutes Gaupset ran from inside her own box, past Codina, and then shot over the bar from the edge of the area.
Six minutes were added on at the end of the second half.
Arsenal added a fifth in the 95th minute to wrap up the points. Pelova intercepted in midfield and played a through ball for Blackstenius. She ran into the box and slotted past Kop with her left foot. 5-2.
The result makes it 11 straight win, with Arsenal climbing into second place ahead of Manchester United on goal difference.