Arsenal V Tottenham Hotspur pre-season fixture

The UEFA Women’s Champions League winners were back in action at home where they face North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur at the Mangata Developments Stadium.

Both teams have made significant changes to their squads ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

With new management, Martin Ho in charge for The Lillywhites and The Gunners breaking records and signing young Liverpool and Canadian forward, Olivia Smith.

📸via www.tottenhamhotspur.com

 Starting XI

Arsenal: Borbe (GK), Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley (C), Mariona, Mead, McCabe, Kelly, Pelova, Russo, Cooney-Cross

[SUBSTITUTES: Zinsberger (GK), Codina, Little, Smith, Foord, Nighswonger, Hinds, Reid, Wellesley-Smith, V.Lia, Harwood]

Tottenham: Kop (GK), Grant, Naz, England (C), Holdt, Rybrink, Vinberg, Hunt, Spence, Summanen, Koga

[SUBSTITUTES: Heeps (GK), Jackson (GK), Oroz, Csiki, Graham, Thomas, Dennis, Pierre, Endacott, Mace]

Kick-Off

As the game got underway, Arsenal started their press high in Tottenham’s third.

An early shot by Victoria Pelova from the edge of the box. Unfortunately for The Gunners, the shot landed on the crossbar, but the rebound fell to Alessia Russo, however nothing came of it.

Tottenham had their early moment where Olivia Holdt shot from range, however the ball flew just over the crossbar.

Arsenal 1 – 0 Tottenham Hotspur

Within the first 5 minutes, Victoria Pelova had got her goal and made it 1 – 0 in this North London rivalry.

Emily Fox was dragged down on the counterattack; Arsenal was awarded a free-kick advantage down the left flank. Katie McCabe took the shot, but the shot was tipped over the bar by Kop.

Around the 15^th minute, Russo notices Kop off her line and takes a shot from range, however the ball flew just left.

Arsenal 1 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur

The Gunners’ backline is pressed against in the box and Tottenham took advantage. Bethany England picked the ball up and took a shot, where The Gunners saw their advantage equalised against.

Arsenal 2 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal force Tottenham into an own goal. Alessia Russo put the cross into the box, which was helped by Tottenham’s Charli Grant. Lize Kop couldn’t keep the shot out.

Despite having the advantage, Arsenal continued to push on to maintain a comfortable lead. Chloe Kelly throughs the ball into Beth Mead who runs the final-third. Pelova got on the end of a dangerous cross, however an un-controlled first touch takes the ball out.

The fourth official indicated a minimum of 1 minute added time, but this wasn’t used to either sides advantage.

Half-time: Arsenal 2 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal saw new signings, Olivia Smith and Taylor Hinds in action, as well as Laia Codina.

Tottenham also make a change before their next 45. Martha Thomas made way onto the field, replacing Olivia Holdt.

During the opening minutes of the second half, both teams play defensively, with some attacking from Arsenal.

Arsenal 2 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur level from a penalty, taken by captain Bethany England which was slotted past Anneke Borbe.

Tottenham made yet another change, Grant made way for Dennis.

Arsenal 2 – 3 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham continue to punish The Gunners. Vinberg ran into a wide area, and slotted the ball home past Borbe, putting Tottenham ahead 3-2.

Triple substitution for Arsenal came around in the 60–70-minute mark. Foord, Nighswonger and Reid all came on for Russo, Mead and Mariona.

Arsenal 3 – 3 Tottenham Hotspur

With 20 minutes to play of normal time, Arsenal levelled again. With a perfect ball over the top for Caitlin Foord, who has the ball under-control, slots it past Kop.

Arsenal made more changes, a senior debut for Sophie Harwood and the return of Kim Little comes on for goal-scorer Pelova and Fox.

Arsenal 3 – 4 Tottenham Hotspur

A free kick taken by Evelina Summanen, slips out of Anneke Borbe’s hands and into the back of the net.

Another change for the leaders, Tottenham Hotspur. England makes way for Csiki.

With 3 minutes left of normal time, Taylor Hinds got her head on the end of a dangerous looking cross, but nothing came of it.

Full-time score: 3 – 4

Despite the pre-season result, the UWCL champions face a defeat against local rivals, Tottenham. Both sets of teams brought on impact substitutions, as well as some new faces.

Martin Ho made his mark during today’s North London derby, and he will be a force to be reckoned with in the Women’s Super League (WSL). Post-match, we heard from Ho, who was asked about their up-beat second half performance compared to their first half. Martin Ho responded, “First half we were a little bit passive and second half, we showed more personality.”

Renée Slegers oversaw her first preseason fixture in front of fans as head coach. Slegers was asked about how the UEFA Women’s Champions League will motivate her and the squad for the 2025/26 season, who responded “It’s definitely motivating because that’s what you do it all for. You want to progress and make things better and make things more sustainable and create consistency.”

The Gunners will be back in action for their second and final pre-season fixture against West Ham United on Wednesday 27^th August. The Lillywhites will face Southampton a week before they kick their campaign off.