Russo hits winner as Arsenal end winless run at Spurs

Arsenal ended their five-game winless run in the Women's Super League with a 2-1 north London derby victory over Tottenham, easing pressure on head coach Renée Slegers.The Gunners had won only once in their opening six league games and started the weekend eighth, six points behind fourth-placed Spurs. They fell behind to Cathinka Tandberg's 13th-minute header but Georgia Stanway equalised four minutes later before Alessia Russo converted a second-half penalty. As it happened | Teams | StatsTransfer Centre LIVE! | WSL news and transfers | FREE WSL highlightsGot Sky? Watch WSL games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream WSL games with no contract📺Tottenham started brightly and exposed Arsenal's defensive weaknesses in transition, but their intensity faded as the first half progressed. Russo was denied by an outstanding Lize Kop save after the break before scoring from the spot in the 56th minute, after the ball struck substitute Ella Morris' outstretched hand during a scramble from a corner. The penalty decision was a harsh one but Russo, who has missed some big chances in recent games, made no mistake to give Arsenal the lead.Spurs pushed for an equaliser, with Shekiera Martinez having the ball in the net from close range in the 82nd minute, only for the offside flag to deny them. Arsenal held on for a much-needed win, offering some breathing room after a dismal start. Key moments from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium...13: GOAL! Tandberg fires Tottenham ahead as Pelova's corner catches Arsenal out.17: GOAL! Stanway levels for Arsenal with a powerful strike after Russo's pass.50: Sombath is stretchered off following an injury, with Morris coming on for Tottenham.54: WHAT A SAVE! Kop makes an outstanding one-on-one save to deny Russo after Foord pulls the ball back.56: GOAL! Russo sends Kop the wrong way from the penalty spot to put Arsenal ahead after the ball strikes Morris' hand in the box.Analysis: Did Arsenal just revive their season with derby win?Sky Sports' William Bitibiri:"Could this be the moment Arsenal's season finally takes off? A north London derby win might be exactly what Renée Slegers needed."Arsenal arrived at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium under real pressure, winless in five WSL games and with just five goals in six matches."Defeat would have intensified questions over Slegers' future. Instead, her side showed some much-needed resilience to come from behind and claim a huge three points."It wasn't perfect. Arsenal looked nervous early on, conceded from a corner and remained vulnerable in transition."But Georgia Stanway's response was emphatic, while Alessia Russo delivered the decisive moment from the penalty spot after being denied by Lize Kop moments earlier."The result will lift confidence, particularly for Russo, who has struggled for her usual clinical edge. A derby victory can change the mood around a club, and the travelling supporters made their relief clear."Now Arsenal must build on it. One win will not fix their season, but this could be the turning point Slegers desperately needed."Slegers: We have to back it upArsenal head coach Renee Slegers speaking to BBC Sport:"I'm happy because I see the fans and what it means for them. We were playing for the fans today. I'm happy for the players, who have stuck in during a really difficult period for us."I'm happy they have got the reward for all their work. There were good moments from us today. It was a step in the right direction and I'm very happy with the win, but now we have to back it up over the next couple of games."I think we were brave in our press and connected in those decisions. We did well playing around them, dominating the ball in phases and looking for the things that work for us."We created good opportunities, big opportunities, which I'm pleased with."As a player, you have so much pasta, and that's on the menu for us coaches as well. I think I've had an overload of pasta, so I need something else tonight. It will be a salad, I think. Maybe a small glass of wine."What the result means...Tottenham fixturesArsenal fixturesWSL fixtures