Alessia Russo’s first-half hat-trick helped Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 in the north London derby to keep alive their Women’s Super League title hopes.
Renee Slegers’ side needed to respond after Man City had breezed to victory in the Manchester derby earlier in the day and they did thanks to Russo’s first treble for the club as the Gunners stayed 11 points behind the leaders with two games in hand.
The England striker opened her tally with a powerful fifth-minute header after being picked out from Katie McCabe’s corner, before minutes later latching on to Olivia Smith’s pass, rounding the onrushing Lize Kop and slotting the ball home from a tight angle.
Russo scores her second goal of the game
Having got themselves back into the game thanks to Frida Maanum’s own goal – the visitors’ first-ever goal at the Emirates – Spurs then gifted their neighbours a third when Kop passed the ball straight to Russo, who gratefully accepted the present for her hat-trick goal before the half-hour mark.
Russo had eight first-half shots, the joint-most by any player in a WSL game this season, although it was Caitlin Foord who added a fourth just past the hour mark with a thunderous strike into the top corner.
Caitlin Foord celebrates after scoring Arsenal’s fourth goal
Substitute Bethany England’s sweet strike did give Spurs hope on her 200th WSL appearance, only for Stina Blackstenius to come off the bench to poach a fifth for the Gunners in injury-time to send most of the 46,123 fans in attendance home happy.
Russo celebrates with her Arsenal team-mates
That comprehensive display extended Arsenal’s winning run to 11 matches in all competitions, while it was also a record-extending 17th straight home win in the WSL, including victories over Man City and Chelsea, to just about keep them in the title race.
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