BBC

Women's Super League  BBC

Tottenham manager Martin Ho says Women's Super League referees "need more support" as he vented his frustration over a controversial penalty decision in their derby defeat by Arsenal.

A 2-1 win for the Gunners at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday was settled by Alessia Russo's spot-kick in the 56th minute.

Referee Phoebe Cross awarded the decision after Lisa Baum's shot bounced off the post and Cathinka Tandberg's clearance hit Spurs team-mate Ella Morris' outstretched hand.

According to the laws, if the ball hits a hand after it was played by a team-mate, a penalty should not be awarded.

Ho said: "My interpretation of the rule is if your team-mate hits it and your team-mate is one yard away, time and distance is taken into account and it's not a penalty.

"That's what we were told at the start of the season in the referee's meeting. I asked the question, 'how is it [a penalty] from that distance?' They couldn't give me an answer on the pitch.

"I said I would come and speak to them after the game because I want to understand it, I want to understand what they're seeing. Then I can accept a decision that is there. When that decides a game, it's frustrating, because it's not within the laws of the game."

Arsenal's victory over Tottenham on Saturday meant more than usual.

It was not just a win against their rivals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but a first in six Women's Super League matches and a huge release of pressure.

Upon hearing the final whistle, confirming their 2-1 success, Arsenal's players ran towards their supporters in the away end to celebrate passionately.

It was a visible show of emotion, a moment of relief and a sense things could finally be turning in their favour after a disappointing WSL start where they had beaten only Brighton.

Could it now be the catalyst to repair a campaign that looked to have been derailed in just two months.

Arsenal started the day in the bottom half of the table, four points off fourth-placed Tottenham and 12 points behind leaders Manchester City.

With their title ambitions in ruins, manager Renee Slegers was facing weekly questions about her future and defeat by Spurs could have been the last straw.

Confidence was at an all-time low and a high-stakes north London derby was not the ideal game to go into with no momentum.

The nerves were obvious as there were misplaced passes, poor clearances and sloppy errors in a disjointed first half.

Tottenham had even taken the lead, although they held it for just four minutes as Georgia Stanway's powerful strike cancelled out a header from Cathinka Tandberg.

When asked what she said to the players at half-time, boss Slegers revealed: "I just gave constructive and tactical things that could help us to get the win, and remind us about the fight and intensity on the pitch.

"It was a real derby. The team were in a good place and were finding solutions themselves. It was just constructive messaging."

Arsenal were much better in the second half, putting more pressure on Tottenham and getting the winning goal they needed.

Referee Phoebe Cross pointed to the spot when Lisa Baum's shot bounced off the post and Tandberg's clearance hit the outstretched hand of her Spurs team-mate Ella Morris nearby.

Alessia Russo, who had failed to convert a big chance just moments earlier, made no mistake the second time around and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Lize Kop.

She roared in celebration and sprinted towards the away fans - an outburst of emotion that was replicated at full-time by England team-mate Leah Williamson.

Slegers stood back as her players enjoyed the adulation from supporters. They had finally delivered a win and the fans had something to sing about.

"I'm so happy we got it for them. We said we would play for the fans. We played for them and connected with them," said Slegers.

"We sold out the away section, they came in the rain and sang and fought with us throughout the game.

"At the end, it was scrappy and it was game management and they were all there with us.

"You could see how the team responded and how they were with the fans. It was pure joy and happiness. We want to capitalise on these emotions."

It was the perfect result, but never easy.

Former Arsenal defender Gilly Flaherty told BBC One the visitors were "causing their own problems" in an unconvincing first half and they took time to settle.

They showed nervousness and had to cling on at the end, relying on a stroke of luck and a controversial refereeing decision to get them over the line.

But it was not undeserved and Slegers made the decision at full-time to show their feelings and celebrate with supporters in a different way, having abandoned their familiar post-match team huddle in the centre of the pitch.

"The fans were on our minds. We wanted to play for something bigger, not only for ourselves. That is always a balance," she said.

One Gunners fan told BBC Sport at half-time: "It's 1-1 but Arsenal look very nervy in and out of possession. Another week, another formation, another different starting XI. All feels so desperate and out of control."

Slegers showed understanding of their frustration as she added: "We normally do a huddle on the pitch but we decided to just go to the fans instead.

"Actions speak louder than words. There was not much more talking to do so we just wanted to celebrate with them.

"We had a run of games where results haven't been good enough. It was frustrating for everyone. This will definitely energise us."

Slegers is pleased Arsenal are set to embark on a busy period with their next game in the Women's Champions League on Wednesday against Benfica.

They have four home games in November and a trip to Barcelona - all good opportunities to build momentum.

Their WSL title hopes may be gone, but a top-three finish is imperative to secure European football next season.

"We need to back this up in the next couple of games. There were some really good things for us on the pitch," said Slegers.

"We want to be more consistent but this was a really good step. It's positive energy we want to capitalise on, but it's only a step."

'We have to take responsibility'

FT: Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I think that there were many different moments in the game. First half I wanted more intensity. We wanted high pressing but we were not strong enough in duels.

"We had some kind of chances in the first half and in the second half, we talked and we started a bit better. We had a good chance with Pedro [Neto]. We had spoken about how important the first goal would be and when they scored I felt 'ah, this is not what we wanted'.

"Straightaway almost, came the red card. Disappointed with the result and we have to be honest with the performance, we could have played better."

On the performance: "There were moments we planned to be more aggressive and with the ball we lacked a little bit of composure to give more passes. It was about it being a derby and going through difficult moments that you need to manage.

"One key moment was the first goal."

On Mike Penders' mistake: "This is football. It is about doing great things and dealing with difficult moments. We will support Mike. We come together from these moments."

On missing Joao Pedro: "It would be so easy to talk about the players we're missing but with the squad that we have, we believe we can do better with the team that we have.

"We have to be self-critical and take responsibility."

On Cole Palmer red card: "I have to check. It was hard for everyone to deal with 1-0 when the game was so close. It affected a bit our emotional control."

'This is a benchmark'

FT: Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham defender Andy Robertson, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Stamford Bridge is a difficult place to come and it always is for every team that comes here, and obviously it's a London derby and things like that so it adds to it but I just think the most pleasing thing was how we played, how we went about our business today.

"Everyone was outstanding and then you get the rewards for that and the result you deserve because it's not always happened this season. We've probably played better than what our results suggested and we got the result Monday and we wanted to really kick on from that.

"I think today was our best performance of the season."

On what Tottenham were doing right today: "We believed in ourselves and I think that was key we cam here and believed we could get the result and I think we showed that from minute one.

"We were comfortable on the ball, we played through their high press, we were aggressive when we didn't have the ball and believed we'd come here and get the result and that's what we've been working on and trying to get through the whole changing room.

"It's just about the belief because we have the quality, I think nobody denies that when they look at the squad."

Was belief more important or as important than any tactics today? "Of course, we've always been a good set up in terms of what we try and do and the different things we try and do in every single game. I think tactically, we've always been there but maybe the belief within it hasn't always been there.

"Thankfully it all pieced together today."

Are we seeing Roberto de Zerbi's Spurs now? "We've seen it today and I think that's all we can say just now because we hope that it is but it's up to us to go and do it now. I think today was exactly how the manager wants us to play in every single game.

"That's the benchmark now - it's just one-off performance we've done against Chelsea, sent our fans home happy and don't kick on. This is a benchmark and we have to keep pushing."

'A big Tottenham statement'

FT: Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham

Martin Keown

Former England defender on Final Score

Tottenham have made a big statement in a really convincing performance. Whether it was the win on Monday night that sparked something, or just what this fixture means to the players – it’s always been a bit feisty, shall we say? I think they stood up to it really well.

I thought Maddison was magnificent in midfield. He's like the Artful Dodger, isn't he? That midfield is full of mischief, but he's brave against the ball. He sets the tone, and he got them all playing really well.

I thought Tel was magnificent out on the left-hand side, Kudus on the right was also really effective, and everybody really managed to handle the ball really well on the night. Spurs had almost 70% possession, which is remarkable for a team which was just a few places from the bottom of the table.

I think what’s changed for Spurs is the key personnel. De Zerbi said just a few weeks ago that this team lacks personality, lacks character. So, he put Maddison in, he took a gamble. Maybe he could have managed his minutes better because he's now injured. But he’ll be thinking, ‘Ok, that's paid off, it's got the momentum going’ - they've got a vital win. He has to take gambles and it's paid off – as long as Maddison is not out for too long, because he's really important to what they do.

'You have to run, to fight - and we did'

FT: Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I think we deserved to win. The players worked very well, prepared very well the game. This morning, yesterday, all days in the last week and the qualities of the players are very clear.

"I'm happy for the spirit of the players. I think we have to change the last part of the history of our club. I would like to follow in this way."

On fight spiriting: "Football is the quality of the play, the quality of the players, for sure, but it is a competition. It is a fight. You have to run, you have to fight, you have to arrive first to the second ball. You have to win the duels and we did."

On tactics: "We knew Chelsea play very well, they have clear organisation, clear structure on the pitch. We prepared our players with two midfielders and James Maddison with freedom, where he smells the right position."

On James Maddison injury: "He played very well while he was on the pitch then [Conor] Gallagher played with different characteristics. Different style but he played very well.

"James is a different player. He feels football, he understands football. It is easier for me when you have a player of his talent.

"I think it is not a big problem. We have to see."

On Mathys Tel: "Mathys needs to play to understand football, become calmer but he is a big talent."

On confidence after a big win: "I think it is important for the players to belief more in themselves because their qualities are very high. We are happy for the fans, first of all, because we know what it means to beat Chelsea and for the club as well.

"In the last years they suffered, like the fans, they believe in this project, in this group and I'm happy for them."

Best performance? "With Tottenham, of course."

'We can do better'

FT: Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, speaking to Sky Sports: "We are all disappointed with the result, with the performance collectively and individually we were not at our best level.

"It was about the first goal and it went their way and with 10 men it was difficult but we can do better.

"Chances were the main thing, they had few and we had few. We spoke at half time we had to be patient and be mature.

"We can do better.

"We wanted to have this fluidity in the middle. We wanted the pockets filed with Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers. There were situations but overall we have to do better."

On Mike Penders own goal: "We feel for everyone, it is a team thing, a collective. We have to move on."

On Cole Palmer's two yellow cards: "I haven't seen them."

'Now it is a complete team'

FT: Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi, speaking to Sky Sports: "It was a big moment for the fans, the club and the players also. They deserved this win, they prepared very well. We are improving a lot, we are improving in the mentality, in the group and the relationships with the players and then we are improving on the pitch.

"Against Aston Villa, Everton for 30 minutes we were playing very well. Maybe no goals, no finishing good enough to score and maybe in the first bad moment we changed mentality. Now it is a complete team. The players are playing better, we improved in the style.

"When we stay for dinner and stay together in the dressing room I see a different group, a different relationship and different atmosphere among the players.

"The character was today great but we have many, many new players. The players who stayed here last season, two or three seasons ago, they suffered the last results, two times 17th position, we are working to change the last part of the history of the club. We are lucky because we have many great people in the dressing room, many great players. I think if we work hard we can do something important.

"I have to believe for sure in this group. I never lost the confidence in my players. The week in Marbella, to speak better face to face, to open ourselves and remove the mask it is important. It is important for the spirit, the belief. The atmosphere inside the dressing room is maybe more important than the tactics."

On James Maddison: "Who loves football, loves James Maddison. He is a special player. I said in the dressing room James let me know the problem because we need you. Gallagher played well when he came into the side, we have many, many great players.

"It depends on his physical condition. Maddison is an unbelievable player."

'We are here to change the club's mentality'

FT: Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur

Mateus Fernandes and Mathys Tel spoke to Sky Sports post-match.

Tel on whether it was a special moment: "It's a very special because we have come to Chelsea so many times and not got a win. We showed great mentality today and we need to enjoy this win."

Tel on his goal: "We created a lot of chances today, we walk out together, the goal is something special for me, I'm happy about it and lets keep pushing now."

Fernandes on settling in at the club: "It takes time, I always believe in me and my team-mates. We always play well, but when we play like this we're very happy."

Fernandes on making Spurs history with the win: "We are here to change the clubs mentality, we want to beat the top teams, and make this victory for the fans."

Fernandes on his first game since becoming a dad: "I want to give a big support to my family, my girlfriend and my new son. I'm very happy like I said, something I have worked to be ready for."

Alessia Russo scores a controversial penalty as Arsenal come from behind to beat local rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 to secure just their second win of the season in the Women's Super League, and ease the pressure on manager Renee Slegers.

Women's Super League  BBC

'A wonderful finish'

Aston Villa 1-0 Man City

Lucy Ward

Former Leeds striker on TNT Sports

What a wonderful finish that is, Nicolas Jackson has settled here at Villa.

City make a mistake and Villa are up there with the intensity. Quick thinking from John McGinn, and it's a really good finish from Jackson.

GOAL - Aston Villa 1-0 Man City

Nicolas Jackson (6 mins)

Well you can't say that hasn't been coming!

It's poor from Marc Guehi as he mis controls the ball, taking a touch before it ricochets off his other leg and John McGinn pounces before finding Nicolas Jackson.

He picks his spot and slots into the bottom corner. It's turning into a good season for Jackson.

'It's a huge challenge against the best team in the league'

Aston Villa v Man City (12:30 BST)

Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to TNT Sports on taking confidence from his side's Champions League win against Viking on Wednesday: "Every game we are playing is giving us more information about how we can get stronger and how we can feel more comfortable collectively and deliver it.

"The European matches we've played and won were fantastic but now the Premier League is our priority so hope we can use those matches to improve, and show today against the best team is a huge, huge challenge today we have."

On Man City: "They are a team who play trying to dominate, trying to impose positioning, skills, structure tactically with the ball so we must be so intense in our focus and action individually, duels and recovery playing in our structure.

"When we can have the ball, try as well to have momentum, dominating, keeping the ball and trying to stop them and trying to threaten them. It's a huge challenge collectively and individually against the best team in the league."

On Johan Manzambi: "Each match he's playing with us is experience. It's an opportunity to give us his skills, his good work in his task, he's very important to us tactically how we are collectively thinking.

"His quality is there, how he is understanding better and better playing matches our structure tactically, his task is very, very important."

'Manzambi is like a Swiss army knife'

Aston Villa v Man City (12:30 BST)

Owen Hargreaves

Former Manchester United midfielder on TNT Sports

Johan Manzambi is like a Swiss army knife, he can do everything. If you could create a player this kid has got everything.

Every time he steps up he just gets better. He has potential do anything he wants in the game, he could be one of the best in the world if he wants to be.

Cherki 'one of best players in Europe'

Aston Villa v Man City (12:30 BST)

Manchester City spent half of their Champions League match against AEK Athens showboating and Rayan Cherki was at the forefront of that.

In a comfortable 5-1 win against the Greek side on Tuesday, Cherki showed off his skills in front of a delighted home crowd.

Former City boss Pep Guardiola expressed his dislike of trickery for the sake of it and Enzo Maresca seemed to agree. But he has also said Cherki is currently "one of the best players in Europe".

The Frenchman has started this season in impressive fashion for City, scoring six goals and providing two assists in 11 matches so far.

"I like when the players are happy, 100%," said Maresca. "I also like simple things.

"The most difficult thing in football is to do the easy things - don't complicate it. Sometimes players that are so good like Rayan, they can do that. In this moment, Rayan is one of the best players in Europe.

"When he is in the right position - that means when we are able to find him between the lines - he is always dangerous and he has the quality in the box.

"If we are able to keep him there and find him between the lines and in the right position, he is one of the best players in Europe."

Arsenal have scored five goals in six Women's Super League (WSL) games this season - the joint-second lowest tally in the division.

They might well be grateful, then, to be facing a team on Saturday that have conceded 12 goals in their past two matches.

It just so happens that team is fierce rivals Tottenham.

But Spurs have their own fires to fight, given their decent start to the WSL campaign has gone up in flames.

This is a north London derby that could define both teams' seasons.

The first six games have been galling for under-pressure Arsenal boss Renee Slegers, particularly given pre-season talk of a serious title push.

The facts do not make for pleasant reading for Arsenal and their fans:

No victory since the opening day at Brighton

Toothless home draws with promoted Birmingham and Crystal Palace

Defeats at pre-season title rivals Chelsea and Manchester City mean they are nine points off Champions League qualification

Eighth in the table on the same tally as West Ham, Aston Villa and Palace

That said, on one level Slegers can feel hard done by.

After all, Arsenal have hit the woodwork more times than anyone else (five), had the joint-most touches in the opposition box (283) and created the third-highest number of chances (93).

However, their shot conversion rate of 5.9% is comfortably the worst in the division, with leaders Manchester City's at 16.7%. The statistic is more staggering given the quality they possess in Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius and Olivia Smith among others.

"You can't question the commitment of the players, but they are trying to walk it in," England's record goalscorer Ellen White told the BBC's Women's Football Weekly podcast. "They are creating opportunities but look a little lost, a bit desperate.

"It's going to be a very uncomfortable day. I don't think a draw is enough."

Slegers has been searching for solutions to the lack of goals, retaining the same front four in her starting XI just once in all competitions

She has made more substitutions than any other manager too, including using her full complement of five in all but one match. But to little avail.

Where to use last season's top scorer Russo is a conundrum, given she has yet to ignite either as a central striker or in the number 10 role.

Losing team heartbeat Mariona Caldentey for up to 10 weeks with a hamstring issue has been another disruption.

"We all know they have the individual quality, but for whatever reason it's not clicking," said former England captain Steph Houghton.

In some respects, Tottenham are perfect opponents for Arsenal.

While Martin Ho has helped Spurs ascend the table since his arrival at the start of last season, they still only have one win in 13 WSL matches against the Gunners - although they did hold them to a goalless draw at home last season.

Ten points from their opening four games with just two goals conceded was a terrific start to 2026-27, but 6-1 and 6-2 defeats by London City Lionesses and Chelsea respectively have provided a thumping reality check.

Even though Spurs flirted with the top three for much of last season, Ho believes his side are not ready for that step.

"We're not at that level yet. People don't like to hear it but it's the honest truth," he said.

"We need to understand and accept that because if we don't, we're putting unrealistic expectations on ourselves."

Prior to those losses, it was looking promising at Tottenham, who have picked up their own share of big wins against Crystal Palace (7-0) and Aston Villa (4-0) and demonstrated the clinical edge so lacking in their north London neighbours.

Attackers Signe Gaupset, Olivia Holdt and Kirsty Hanson have all scored two or more in the WSL already this season while five-goal Victoria Pelova has been the standout player.

Given she arrived in the summer from Tottenham's north London rivals - and has scored as many by herself as the entire Arsenal team - she will have her own motivation to pile more misery onto her former employers.

"I didn't get a lot of minutes last year with Arsenal," Pelova told BBC Sport. "I get more freedom here and I feel full trust from my team-mates and the staff.

"We have to beat them."

Denmark playmaker Holdt, who scored a hat-trick against Crystal Palace in September, told BBC Radio 5 Live Drive that hosting the derby at the men's stadium could be an advantage.

"It's amazing we have the possibility to play there," she said. "We'll feel it in the game with all the fans supporting us and not Arsenal.

"It's an opportunity for us to play some good football."

At this early stage, Manchester City, Chelsea and London City have put daylight between themselves and the rest.

That leaves both Spurs and Arsenal needing wins to realistically stand any chance of overhauling them in the race for Champions League football next season - starting at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Spurs supporter Ebony Riddell Bamber from Women of the Lane says there was a "huge sense of relief" after Tottenham's 3-1 win against Coventry City.

Roberto de Zerbi's side picked up their first win of the season on Monday and scored as many goals as they had in the campaign to date.

Reflecting on the performance, Bamber told BBC Radio London: "There was a huge sense of relief and it was great to walk home with a massive smile on my face.

"All-in-all it wasn't plain sailing, but there are plenty of positives for us to take into the next very big fixture against Chelsea.

"The subs made a difference because it felt like the energy levels were dropping a little bit and they got us over the line."

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