Russo scores three for Arsenal in rampant north London derby win | OneFootball

Arsenal strengthened their chances of achieving a top three spot in the Women’s Super League with an emphatic 5-2 win over north London rivals, Spurs.

Alessia Russo scored two in the first ten minutes before Arsenal’s own Frida Manuum scored Spurs’ only goal.

Spurs were not able to reduce the deficit any further though and Russo completing her hat-trick after just 30 minutes put the game out of sight in the first half.

Caitlin Foord added another on the hour mark to increase Arsenal’s lead before Bethany England got a goal back ten minutes from time, however it would be too little too late for Spurs.

Stina Blackstenius capped the night off with a fifth goal for Arsenal on her 150th appearance for the club.

After beating Chelsea on Tuesday Arsenal had the opportunity to cap off the week perfectly against Spurs and it took Russo just four minutes to start making that dream a reality in front of a huge 46,000 strong crowd.

Spurs left the Lionesses striker unmarked from a corner and she made no mistake heading Arsenal into the lead. If that was not already enough damage for Spurs in the first ten minutes, there was more to come as Russo once again had the ball in the back of the net just two minutes later.

She latched onto a through ball, rounded Lize Kop before passing the ball into the empty net.

Russo was inches away from completing her hat trick after a quarter of an hour. The striker did well to create space in the box, but Kop did well to get down low and save a shot that was destined for the bottom corner.

The save seemed to instil some fight in Spurs who got themselves back into it just minutes later through Tandberg. Much like Arsenal’s opener, the goal came from a corner which was headed into the goal by Arsenal’s own Manuum.

However, Spurs’ fight back was short lived as Russo added her third of the match on the half hour mark, completing her hat-trick. She capitalised on Kop’s poor pass out, intercepting the ball before firing into the net to restore Arsenal’s two-goal lead.

Arsenal kept their foot on the proverbial pedal throughout, not letting up on a wounded Spurs side. Russo had opportunities to make it four before the break, but she was denied twice by excellent deefendung from Toko Koga.

Spurs would not be able to stop a fourth going in after the break though. With Russo off the pitch, it was Caitlin Foord’s turn to get in on the goals in the derby. She brought down a cross in the box before firing hard into the near post to put the game out of reach for Martin Ho’s side.

England almost got Spurs back into it 20 minutes from time, but her header, which was arrowing towards the bottom corner, was spectacularly stopped by Van Domselaar in the Arsenal goal. The Spurs striker would get her goal though just ten minutes later with an exquisite finish. From a tight angle on the right she was able to chip the Arsenal goalkeeper and get Spurs’ second on a poor day for them.

Arsenal were not done yet as Blackstenius rounded off the match with a fifth for Arsenal in the 95th minute. She raced through on goal and placed into the bottom corner.

For Arsenal they now face Chelsea in the second leg of their Women’s Champions League tie. They are currently leading 3-1 after the first leg. Spurs’ next match is also against Chelsea in the quarter-final of the FA Cup.