Arsenal swept aside north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to record a fourth successive Women’s Super League win.
Caitlin Foord’s composed finish and Vivianne Miedema’s brilliant volley put the Gunners in command before the break at an empty Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Katie McCabe capped a dominant display in which Arsenal mustered 26 efforts on goal when she pounced on a second-half defensive error to slot home.
The Gunners remain fourth, three points adrift of Manchester United in third.
But victory over Spurs means Arsenal’s hopes of sealing the third Champions League place is still in their own hands as they have a game in hand over United – and, just as crucially, a far superior goal difference.
Finishing in the top three had looked a long shot for Joe Montemurro’s side at the beginning of February, but a run of three losses in four for United and Arsenal’s own resurgence has put them back in the mix.
They looked back to near their best against their fiercest rivals, with Miedema producing a typically swaggering, influential display which culminated in her superbly guiding McCabe’s corner into the roof of the net.
Foord had already put the away side in front by then, calmly finding the bottom corner after a clever one-two with Noelle Maritz.
England midfielder Jordan Nobbs was also twice denied by goalkeeper Becky Spencer from the edge of the area before the interval, while Danielle van de Donk tamely shot straight at Spencer from 10 yards out.
But, 16 months on from these two teams meeting in the WSL for the first time in front of a league record 38,262 fans at the same ground, McCabe eventually added further gloss to the scoreline with another cool finish.
Tottenham, who came closest to a consolation goal when Manuela Zinsberger kept out Angela Addison’s close-range attempt, remain eighth in the table.
Line-ups
Tottenham Women
Formation 4-4-2
- 22Spencer
- 35Morgan
- 20McManusBooked at 22mins
- 3Zadorsky
- 15Worm
- 7DavisonSubstituted forAddisonat 64′minutes
- 18Kennedy
- 4GreenSubstituted forChoat 71′minutes
- 23AyaneSubstituted forWilliamsat 64′minutes
- 9Dean
- 16GrahamSubstituted forQuinnat 87′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Mikalsen
- 5Harrop
- 8Peplow
- 10Williams
- 11Cho
- 14Addison
- 17Naz
- 19Quinn
- 26Godfrey
Arsenal Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Zinsberger
- 16MaritzSubstituted forPattenat 75′minutes
- 3Wubben-Moy
- 13Wälti
- 15McCabeSubstituted forMaierat 70′minutes
- 7van de Donk
- 10Little
- 14Roord
- 19FoordBooked at 30minsSubstituted forGutat 71′minutes
- 11Miedema
- 8Nobbs
Substitutes
- 4Patten
- 6Williamson
- 18Williams
- 20Maier
- 21Gut
- 29Goldie
Live Text
Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur Women 0, Arsenal Women 3.
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur Women 0, Arsenal Women 3.
Attempt missed. Siri Worm (Tottenham Hotspur Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Foul by Lia Wälti (Arsenal Women).
Angela Addison (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal Women).
Cho So-Hyun (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Nobbs.
Attempt missed. Jill Roord (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Anna Patten.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Lucy Quinn replaces Kit Graham.
Attempt missed. Rachel Williams (Tottenham Hotspur Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Rianna Dean with a cross.
Offside, Arsenal Women. Malin Gut tries a through ball, but Jordan Nobbs is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Kit Graham (Tottenham Hotspur Women) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rachel Williams.
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Rachel Williams tries a through ball, but Angela Addison is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Leonie Maier (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left misses to the left. Assisted by Vivianne Miedema.
Attempt saved. Angela Addison (Tottenham Hotspur Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Rachel Williams (Tottenham Hotspur Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kit Graham.
Attempt saved. Kit Graham (Tottenham Hotspur Women) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rachel Williams.
Substitution, Arsenal Women. Anna Patten replaces Noëlle Maritz.
Charlotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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