Arsenal thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 5-0 in front of 55,784 fans in the WSL north London derby at the Emirates; Lauren James netted late on as Chelsea edged past Everton; Elisabeth Terland scored twice as Man Utd saw off Crystal Palace to stay second
Arsenal Dominate North London Derby as Chelsea Maintain WSL Lead
Alessia Russo delivered a stellar performance, earning Player of the Match honors as Arsenal demolished Tottenham 5-0 in front of a roaring crowd of 55,784 at the Emirates. The England forward tormented the Spurs defense throughout the match, initially appearing to break the deadlock in the 15th minute when she connected with Kyra Cooney-Cross’ precise cross. However, the goal was later credited as a Clare Hunt own goal, as Russo’s header deflected off the unfortunate Spurs defender before nestling into the far corner.
Maria Caldentey doubled Arsenal’s advantage 10 minutes before the break with a thunderous long-range strike, a goal worthy of the occasion. The Gunners continued their relentless assault early in the second half when Frida Maanum’s shot took a heavy deflection off Hunt, making it 3-0. Russo, who had been a menace all afternoon, turned provider for that goal before finally getting on the scoresheet herself just before the hour mark. The clinical forward latched onto Caitlin Foord’s pass before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner.
The best was saved for last, though, as US international Emily Fox showcased her attacking prowess with a stunning strike from distance, curling the ball into the top corner for her maiden WSL goal. Arsenal’s emphatic victory keeps them firmly in the title race, closing the gap on leaders Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Chelsea maintained their seven-point lead at the top with a dramatic 2-1 win over Everton at Kingsmeadow. The first half was a tight affair, with Chelsea believing they had taken the lead early on, only for officials to rule the ball had not fully crossed the line. The hosts managed just one shot on target before the break, while Everton offered little in attack.
However, the game sparked into life in the 51st minute when Kelly Gago raced through and fired a diagonal strike into the far corner, giving the Toffees a surprise lead. Chelsea responded swiftly, leveling nine minutes later as Mayra Ramirez skillfully turned her marker and slotted home past Courtney Brosnan from close range.
With the clock ticking down, Chelsea continued to probe, and their persistence paid off deep into stoppage time. Lauren James was given too much space 25 yards from goal, and she made Everton pay with a sublime sweeping finish, securing Chelsea’s ninth consecutive win in all competitions.
Manchester United Battle Past Resilient Crystal Palace
Elisabeth Terland struck twice as Manchester United overcame a spirited Crystal Palace side with a 3-1 victory. The visitors found themselves on the back foot early on as goalkeeper Milla-Maj Majasaari gifted Terland an easy opener. But Palace, sitting bottom of the table, refused to capitulate.
Lily Woodham orchestrated a well-worked equalizer before halftime, lofting a pinpoint pass to Mille Gejl, who surged down the left before beating Phallon Tullis-Joyce at the near post—only the sixth goal United have conceded all season.
The underdogs nearly grabbed a second after the break, only for their effort to be cleared off the line. But United’s quality eventually prevailed as Terland grabbed her second of the afternoon—her eighth league goal of the campaign—before Grace Clinton sealed the victory with a powerful header, capitalizing on a Majasaari misjudgment from Ella Toone’s free-kick.
The win keeps Marc Skinner’s side second in the WSL, while Palace remain rooted to the foot of the table with just six points from 14 matches.
Leicester and West Ham Secure Crucial Wins
Leicester boosted their survival hopes with a commanding 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium, thanks to captain Janice Cayman’s brace. The veteran midfielder opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark before producing a moment of magic four minutes into the second half—an exquisite 25-yard volley that rocketed into the net.
The Foxes put the game beyond doubt just two minutes later when Julie Thibaud nodded home from close range, moving them up to 10th in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone.
West Ham also enjoyed a strong second half to secure an impressive 3-1 win against Brighton. Shekiera Martinez put the Hammers ahead early on, only for Nikita Parris to respond immediately with a well-taken equalizer—her 99th WSL goal contribution.
Despite an evenly contested first half, Brighton crumbled after the restart. Riko Ueki restored West Ham’s lead before Viviane Asseyi won and converted a penalty with just over 20 minutes remaining. The result lifts the Hammers into eighth, while Brighton missed a key opportunity to close the gap on fourth-placed Manchester City.
With the WSL title race and relegation battle heating up, the coming weeks promise more thrilling action as teams continue to jostle for position.
