Arsenal entered the derby still searching for a spark, having recently been held by Chelsea in the WSL and beaten by Bayern Munich in the Champions League. However, their struggles continued as they failed to find a meaningful response during a difficult afternoon in north London.
Tottenham, meanwhile, delivered one of their most assured performances of the season. Confident both with and without the ball, they absorbed long stretches of Arsenal pressure and earned a well-deserved point under newly appointed head coach Martin Ho.
The result leaves both clubs level on 16 points, occupying fourth and fifth place respectively, and further highlights Spurs’ encouraging progress during the early stages of Ho’s tenure.
Although Arsenal dominated territory and possession — especially after the break — clear chances were scarce. Tottenham goalkeeper Lize Kop had little to do, with the visitors’ attacking play often lacking precision and intensity.
The introduction of Olivia Smith provided Arsenal with their brightest moments. Operating from the right flank, she created several promising openings, but Tottenham’s defensive organisation ensured that none were converted.
Ho’s team had shown signs of improvement in their narrow loss to London City Lionesses, and this performance served as tangible reward for the strides they have made in recent weeks.
For Arsenal, however, the pressure is beginning to mount. With the gap to league leaders Manchester City now stretched to eight points, their margin for error in the title race is shrinking quickly.
Spurs Hold Their Ground with Hard-Won Draw
Tottenham’s development under Martin Ho has been one of the standout storylines of the season. The squad has embraced his ideas with remarkable speed, translating his philosophy into results and rising steadily through the standings.
This north London derby carried added weight, with both sides level on points before kick-off and third place within reach. From the outset, there was a clear sense that Spurs would approach the game with intent — organised defensively, purposeful in transition, and confident enough to challenge Arsenal in key areas of the pitch.
And that prediction played out across the ninety minutes.
Tottenham edged the balance of play in the opening half, showing greater composure on the ball and winning the majority of the contests in midfield. They also managed to disrupt Arsenal’s inconsistent attacking patterns, preventing the visitors from establishing any real rhythm.
The performance reflected the evolution Ho has overseen: a blend of tactical discipline, improved structure, and flashes of individual imagination that have reshaped the team’s identity.
Arsenal applied heavy pressure after the interval, particularly through the lively Olivia Smith on the right flank, pinning Spurs deep inside their own half. Yet despite being forced back and struggling to progress upfield, Tottenham refused to buckle. Their defensive organisation held firm until the final whistle.
“We were excellent in the first half,” Ho said afterwards. “We controlled the ball, moved it with purpose, and defended with real intelligence. The second half was more chaotic — they went longer and made it difficult — but our defensive work was outstanding. I can’t ask for anything more.”
For Spurs, the result strengthens an already impressive start to the campaign and signals that the gap between them and their long-dominant rivals has narrowed significantly. This was a fixture Arsenal typically controlled in previous seasons — but not this one.
Support for Tottenham was evident too, with a record crowd of 6,788 packing into Brisbane Road, including a sizeable travelling contingent of 1,324 Arsenal supporters.
Arsenal’s Inefficiency in the Final Third Raises Fresh Concerns
Arsenal arrived at the north London derby under a cloud of pressure following Wednesday’s European setback, where they surrendered a two-goal lead to Bayern Munich, ultimately losing 3-2.
The Gunners’ sluggish start to the WSL campaign, particularly following their Champions League triumph last season, has left them trailing their main rivals and in need of a performance that could restore confidence.
In the early stages, there were glimpses of promise. Arsenal controlled possession and looked composed, with midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross firing a lively shot and Stina Blackstenius testing goalkeeper Lize Kop with a direct effort. However, these opportunities were sparse, and it was clear that Tottenham were well-prepared and comfortable with their tactical setup.
At half-time, manager Renee Slegers made bold changes, bringing on record signing Olivia Smith and defender Taylor Hinds. The adjustments injected energy into Arsenal’s play, with Smith proving a constant threat down the right flank, unsettling Amanda Nilden and creating multiple opportunities — most of which went unconverted.
Despite the renewed spark, Arsenal were unable to break down Spurs’ disciplined defence. A rare lapse in concentration from goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, whose miscontrolled pass rolled out in stoppage time, epitomised a performance that fell short of expectations.
This marked the fifth game of the season in which Arsenal dropped points, leaving them outside the Champions League qualification positions in fourth place after nine matches.
“It’s a tough period, and we can’t deny that,” said Slegers. “There are positives, but the wins aren’t coming right now. A club like Arsenal always wants to win, so this is frustrating. But we also see enough in the team to keep building — the quality is still there.”
She added that the lingering expectations following last season’s successes are naturally influencing perceptions. “The achievements from last year create a backdrop of expectations. It’s part of what we’re navigating, but it doesn’t change our belief in the team or our ability to turn things around.”
Looking Ahead: Fixtures for Tottenham and Arsenal
Tottenham will be in action on Sunday, 23 November, when they travel to face Bristol City in the Women’s League Cup, with kickoff scheduled for 15:00 GMT. Their next WSL outing sees them return to Brisbane Road to host Aston Villa on Sunday, 7 December at 12:00.
Arsenal, meanwhile, resume their Champions League campaign with a home clash against Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, with a 20:00 kickoff. In domestic action, the Gunners face Liverpool at home in the WSL on Saturday, 6 December, also starting at 12:00.