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Eidevall: Derby win gives us momentum ahead of big week

By Kathryn Batte AT BRISBANE ROAD

WHEN Tottenham held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw in last season’s North London derby, it seemed that the gap between the two clubs was starting to narrow.

Fast forward a year and the Gunners have won both games against their rivals with an aggregate of 9-1. Yesterday’s 5-1 win demonstrated Arsenal are further ahead of Spurs than they ever have been.

Goals from Stina Blackstenius, Kim Little, Frida Maanum and two from Caitlin Foord made it a comfortable day for Jonas Eidevall’s side before Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final return leg with Bayern Munich and next weekend’s clash with Manchester City.

‘I think we have built a good momentum coming into games against Bayern and against City,’ Eidevall said. ‘Now it’s up to us to execute it. Hopefully we go into the games with a good bit of self-confidence.’

Interim Spurs manager Vicky Jepson was taking charge of her second game after ending a run of nine straight league defeats with a 1-0 win over Leicester, but her team were outplayed here. ‘When they went 3-1 up it was probably the nail in the coffin,’ Jepson said.

‘The final whistle goes in a North London derby and it should never be that scoreline.’

Arsenal took the lead after five minutes, when Blackstenius raced on to Leah Williamson’s pass and lobbed the goalkeeper. It was 2-0 just before the half hour, when Foord glided past Ashleigh Neville and hit home a 20-yard strike.

Spurs were given a lifeline when Katie McCabe blocked Ashleigh Neville’s shot with her hand and Bethany England converted the penalty. In the second half McCabe was brought down by Amy Turner and Little fired home the penalty. Foord added a fourth with a smart finish before Maanum hit a sensational 20-yard strike into the top corner.

Football

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2023-03-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

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