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Arsenal squandered the chance to move top of the Women’s Super League with defeat at local rivals Tottenham.
Martha Thomas scored the game-winning goal in the second phase to give Spurs their first WSL win over the Gunners.
That leaves second-place Arsenal champions Chelsea on goal difference after missing most chances at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Spurs sit in sixth place after their first win in six league games.
Arsenal, knowing a win would take them top for at least 24 hours before Chelsea visit Bristol City on Sunday, came closest in the first half when Caitlin Foord struck the post.
They continued to dominate after the break, with Alessia Russo sending a header wide from just six yards, while Frida Maanum whistled a shot just over the bar from the left.
But Spurs held steady and took a surprise lead in the 58th minute, a pass from the full-back that culminated in Thomas’ slide into Celin Bizet’s low cross.
After dismantling Chelsea 4-1 in such impressive fashion at the Emirates Stadium last week, Arsenal looked like they had a chance to showcase themselves in this game, with the chance to beat their rivals at one of the most impressive stadiums in the world. English football and potentially lead. the WSL at Christmas. .
Things didn’t work out that way. Arsenal failed to get a shot on target until the 42nd minute, when Maanum touched the gloves of Barbora Votikova in a slow first half.
It was difficult for them to play with rhythm and get the ball out. When they did, they discovered Foord in the box to create their spaces in the first half.
The Gunners obviously faced the strong words of coach Jonas Eidevall and the second half at a much higher speed, but they did not take their chance.
Eidevall had to break the emergency glass to bring in Vivianne Miedema, still in top form after an ACL injury, midway through the second half. It’s her 100th appearance in the WSL, and the first time she, Russo and Beth Mead were in The Gunners pitching at the same time.
Having such a quality attacking trio provides hope that they can keep up speed with Chelsea in the new year, but it’s far from the perfection Arsenal needed for a top name in the WSL since 2018-19.
Spurs manager Robert Vilahamn took the hint to adjust his side to the test of facing a WSL top-four side, following the chastening experience of conceding 11 goals in their past two matches, against Manchester clubs City and United.
He would possibly also have had in mind a terrible WSL record against Arsenal: Spurs had failed to beat their opponents in seven previous league meetings, wasted six and never left a blank slate.
Spurs’ 4-4-2 was much more compact and deeper lying, and it helped them ride out a stormy opening to the second half where Arsenal had eight shots in 13 minutes.
And they took their chance when it came through Thomas – her first goal in six league matches, having scored six in her opening four WSL games.
They scored a moment in the dying moments when they took the lead on an Arsenal corner, with goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger blocked after her arrival. Only a stunning late move denied Rosella Ayane a throw-in.
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