Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur
24th September 2022
1:30pm UK time
BBC One
Tickets are still available and will be available on the day for walk-ups.
Match preview by @belinda
Arsenal will face Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates this Saturday. The match is set to break the Women’s Super League attendance records, with Arsenal reporting 51,000 tickets have been sold.
Arsenal are playing on the back of a frustrating Champions League game against Ajax where they drew 2-2 on Tuesday with goals scored by Stina Blackstenius and a penalty by Kim Little. However in the Women’s Super league, Arsenal’s last game was a home tie against Brighton, which resulted in a convincing 4-0 win, with goals being scored by Kim Little, Stina Blackstenius, and a brace by Beth Mead, who seems to have continued her form from last season and the Euros. Brighton did shape up well against Arsenal, and managed to create 3 shots on the break against them. Even after going down to 10 players, it was always going to be a game where Arsenal would have more of the ball, which they did with 74% possession. During the game Arsenal had 38 shots, 14 which were on target so they aren’t having problems creating chances. A good game by Megan Walsh kept the score down.
Tottenham’s last Women’s Super League game came against Leicester where they won 2-1 with both goals being scored outside the box by Ashleigh Neville, and Drew Spence, with Leicester City’s goal coming from an own goal by Drew Spence. Tottenham had more of the possession and shots, creating nine shots to Leicester’s seven. There could be an argument that they could have created more and should be against those sorts of teams if they really want to push into the top four teams.
Injury news
Arsenal: Arsenal go into the North London derby, with injuries to Teyah Goldie (ACL). Mana Iwabuchi returns to the squad after illness leaving her out of Tuesday’s squad.
Tottenham: Tottenham will be without; Kit Graham (ACL), Ria Percival (ACL), and Chioma Ubogagu (banned), they could also be missing Kerys Harrop. Rosella Ayane is a late omission from the squad after fracturing her foot in their match last week – she’ll be out for about 4 weeks.
Arsenal vs. Tottenham previous games
Tottenham are yet to beat Arsenal in any North London derby that has been played since they were promoted to the Women’s Super League. They did manage to take points off Arsenal last season in a 1-1 draw. On most occasions when playing Arsenal they are able to frustrate and hold Arsenal back as they can be difficult to break down, and can be a physical side. But Arsenal’s higher quality usually always shows as they do tend to create the better chances during the games. Both teams should be really up for the occasion and it could make for a cracking game.
Arsenal Vs Tottenham (Women’s Super League) Head to Head
Caitlin Foord and Vivianne Miedema are currently the top scorers in North London Derbies (all competitions) with seven goals each – if both players start on Saturday they would be the two players to watch. In her last league game Miedema created the most chances on the pitch with seven and got one assist. If Tottenham struggle to keep either of them out of the game Arsenal could find a lot of joy in those areas as well as others on the pitch.
Rehanne Skinner spent the end of last tinkering with a back 5 and seems to have started that way this season using arguably their main threat Ashleigh Neville as a wing back. Most of their attacks come from which side she’s playing from, as well as being a competent defender. She could make it difficult for whichever Arsenal winger and fullback are up against her.
Predicted line ups
