Arsenal beat Tottenham 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday to end a run of five matches without a win in the Women's Super League. It was Arsenal's first victory in six WSL games and only their second of the season.
Arsenal started the day in the bottom half of the table, trailing fourth-placed Tottenham by four points and leaders Manchester City by 12 points. Tottenham took the lead, but Cathinka Tandberg equalised for Arsenal.
Arsenal manager Renee Slegers gave constructive and tactical instructions at half-time, after which her team were better in the second half. Referee Phoebe Cross awarded a penalty after Lisa Baum shot and the ball deflected off the post, and Tandberg's clearance hit the hand of her Spurs teammate Elle Morris. Alessia Russo converted the penalty, sending the ball past goalkeeper Liza Kop, despite having previously missed a big chance.
Leah Williamson displayed emotion at the end of the match. Arsenal sold out the away section, and fans came in the rain. The team abandoned the usual huddle in the centre of the pitch after the game.
Former Arsenal defender Gilly Flaherty told BBC One that the visitors "were making their own problems" in the first half, while one Arsenal fan told BBC Sport at half-time that Arsenal looked very nervous.
Slegers said after the match: "I'm so happy we got it for them." She added: "We sold out the away section, they came in the rain and sang and fought with us throughout the game." She highlighted: "It was pure joy and happiness. We want to capitalise on these emotions." She also stated: "This will definitely energise us" and "We need to back this up in the next couple of games."
Arsenal play their next match in the Women's Champions League on Wednesday against Benfica. In November, the team face four home games and a trip to Barcelona.
