ALESSIA Russo’s first-half hattrick ripped Tottenham to shreds as Arsenal strolled to victory in the North London derby.
The English forward struck three times in 22 minutes to fire the Gunners into third place and above Chelsea FC, who were also dismantled by the Gunners in midweek UEFA Champions League action.
A WSL North London Derby between 4th and 5th should have been a closer contest, but instead, Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to 12 league matches, as well as making it 11 straight wins in all competitions.
46,000 were in attendance at the Emirates to watch a 17th home league win in a row as Russo’s first Arsenal hattrick started the show before substitutes Cailtin Foord and Stina Blackstenius hit number four and five for the Gunners at opposite ends of the second half.
Arsenal also celebrated their legendary captain Kim Little before kick off as she reached 400 club appearances alongside signing a contract extension during the week.
There was a small bit of joy for Spurs when a Frida Maanum own goal at 2-1 meant Arsenal had conceded their first league goal for 2026, before Beth England’s second half screamer made her the first opposing player to score a WSL goal against Arsenal in this calendar year.
However, Tottenham boss Martin Ho will have many questions to answer following back to back 5-2 defeats, even though the English coach signed a new long-term contract just days before the game.
Story of the Match
It took the Gunners and Russo less than five minutes to take the lead, when the Arsenal striker used her strength to create space around the penalty spot before heading Katie McCabe’s corner into the net.
Then just over 90 seconds later, Smith played Russo in behind as the star woman calmly rounded the keeper and slotted the finish into the far corner, despite having two defenders stationed on the goal line.
Tottenham hung on tight and then struck right away when an Amanda Nildén corner was flicked on to the back post, where Tandberg fought Maaunum to force the Norwegian to head into her own net on the 20 minute mark, dragging Spurs into the contest as Arsenal conceded their first league goal since December.
Having prevented a hattrick just minutes earlier, Kop then gifted Russo the ball, and the hosts their two goal lead back, with a horrific pass to the edge of the box, that was clinically drilled into the back of the net by the 27 year-old striker, who completed a first hattrick for Arsenal.
The Gunners then continued their rampage in the second half as substitute Foord, fresh off an Asian Cup Final defeat for Australia against Japan, chested down Beth Mead’s cross before cutting in on her right foot and blasting a powerful finish past Kop’s near post.
With 15 minutes to go, England latched onto a loose ball before slamming a finish high into the top corner and in-off-the-post to give Spurs a slimmer of hope, whilst also becoming the first opposing player to score a league goal against Arsenal in 2026.
However, it turned out to be nothing more than a sweetly struck consolation when Blackstenius ran onto a through ball in behind the Spurs defence, during the dying seconds of the game, before slotting a fifth past Kop as Arsenal sealed the North London derby.
