North London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could define WSL seasons

Tottenham host Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, 24 October at 12:45 BST in a Women's Super League fixture that will be shown live on BBC One and is being billed as one that could define both clubs' seasons.

Arsenal have managed only five goals in six WSL matches this season, the joint-second lowest total in the division, and Alessia Russo—who has scored more goals against Tottenham than any other opponent—has only one league goal so far in 2026-27. The Gunners have not won since the opening day at Brighton, have drawn at home with promoted Birmingham and Crystal Palace, and lost to Chelsea and Manchester City, leaving them nine points off Champions League qualification and sitting eighth on the same points tally as West Ham, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.

Despite results, Arsenal's underlying numbers show activity in the attacking areas: they have hit the woodwork five times, registered the joint-most touches in the opposition box (283) and created 93 chances, the third-highest in the WSL. Their shot conversion rate sits at 5.9%, the lowest in the division compared with Manchester City's 16.7%, even though the squad includes players such as Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius and Olivia Smith.

Since her initial appointment as interim head coach in October 2024, Renee Slegers' WSL win percentage is 65.2%, a figure bettered only by Chelsea (76%) and Manchester City (73.1%). Slegers has retained the same front four in her starting XI just once in all competitions, has made more substitutions than any other manager and has used her full complement of five substitutes in all but one match. The team also faces the absence of Mariona Caldentey for up to 10 weeks with a hamstring problem.

Commenting on Arsenal's form, England's record goalscorer Ellen White told the BBC's Women's Football Weekly podcast: "You can't question the commitment of the players, but they are trying to walk it in," adding, "They are creating opportunities but look a little lost, a bit desperate. "It's going to be a very uncomfortable day. I don't think a draw is enough." Former England captain Steph Houghton added: "We all know they have the individual quality, but for whatever reason it's not clicking."

Tottenham began the season strongly with ten points from their opening four games and conceded only two goals in that period, but recent results have been damaging: they have shipped 12 goals across defeats of 6-1 and 6-2 by London City Lionesses and Chelsea respectively. Spurs have recorded only one win in 13 WSL meetings with Arsenal, although they held Arsenal to a goalless draw at home last season, and head coach Martin Ho, who helped his side climb the table since his arrival at the start of last season, said: "We're not at that level yet. People don't like to hear it but it's the honest truth. "We need to understand and accept that because if we don't, we're putting unrealistic expectations on ourselves."

Tottenham have shown they can be clinical, producing large victories such as 7-0 against Crystal Palace and 4-0 versus Aston Villa. Signe Gaupset, Olivia Holdt and Kirsty Hanson have all scored two or more WSL goals this season, while Victoria Pelova has five goals — the same number as Arsenal have scored as a team — having arrived in the summer "from Tottenham's north London rivals." Pelova told BBC Sport: "I didn't get a lot of minutes last year with Arsenal," adding, "I get more freedom here and I feel full trust from my team-mates and the staff. "We have to beat them." Denmark playmaker Olivia Holdt, who scored a hat-trick against Crystal Palace in September, told BBC Radio 5 Live Drive: "It's amazing we have the possibility to play there. "We'll feel it in the game with all the fans supporting us and not Arsenal. "It's an opportunity for us to play some good football."

Manchester City, Chelsea and London City have opened a gap on the rest of the WSL, leaving both Spurs and Arsenal needing wins if they are to stand any realistic chance of overhauling those sides in the race for Champions League football next season.