Brief

Arsenal claim contentious 2-1 derby win over Tottenham in WSL

A late penalty by Alessia Russo gave Arsenal their first WSL victory of the season, relieving pressure on manager Renée Slegers.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 24 Oct 2026 18:01:40 GMT

Arsenal secured a 2-1 win over Tottenham in the Women’s Super League north‑London derby on Monday, overturning a first‑half deficit thanks to a second‑half penalty by Alessia Russo, according to both the Independent and the Guardian.

What happened

Tottenham opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Cathinka Tandberg headed a Victoria Pelova corner past Arsenal defenders. Four minutes later, Russo delivered a cross that Georgia Stanway struck against the crossbar, equalising for Arsenal. In the 56th minute, a penalty was awarded after Tandberg’s clearance struck the raised arm of substitute Ella Morris; Russo converted the spot‑kick to give Arsenal the lead, which they defended until the final whistle.

What the reports add

The Independent noted that this was the first time in 31 matches – dating back to March 2023 – that Tottenham had lost a league game after scoring the opening goal. The Guardian highlighted the rain‑lashed conditions at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and described Arsenal’s performance as a “reset” after a run of five winless games.

What was said

Russo told BBC One, as reported by the Independent, “I’ve worked on it [the penalty] in training, first and foremost… It’s been tough for us, there’s no denying.” The Guardian quoted the atmosphere as “relief” for manager Renée Slegers, who had been under pressure after a poor start to the season.

How it came about

Arsenal’s win follows a period of attacking struggles documented in Felo’s earlier analysis of the Gunners’ low‑block issues (Arsenal attacking woes). The victory also eases speculation about Slegers’ job security, which had been questioned after a series of draws and defeats earlier in the campaign.

Key facts

Arsenal beat Tottenham 2-1 in a WSL derby (independent.co.uk)
Alessia Russo scored the winning penalty in the 56th minute (independent.co.uk)
Cathinka Tandberg opened the scoring for Tottenham in the 13th minute (theguardian.com)
The win was Arsenal’s first league victory of the season (independent.co.uk)