Arsenal and Tottenham face a pressure derby in the WSL

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur meet in the WSL north London derby on Saturday 24 October (12:45 BST) with both chasing a win, with Arsenal winless since the opening day and nine points outside the Champions League spots.

Under pressure, Arsenal’s start has been especially rough at home, with draws against promoted Birmingham and Crystal Palace and defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City. In the league table they sit eighth level on points with West Ham, Aston Villa and Palace. The sharp end is the problem: despite hitting the woodwork five times and creating 93 chances, their shot conversion rate is just 5.9%, the lowest in the division. Ellen White told BBC Women’s Football Weekly that Arsenal can’t be questioned on effort, but the attack looks “a bit lost” and “a bit desperate”, adding: “I don’t think a draw is enough.”

A derby with momentum swings

Tottenham’s run is no smoother. They’ve managed only one win in 13 WSL matches against Arsenal, though they held them to a goalless draw at home last season. After a strong early stretch—ten points from their first four games and only two goals conceded—Spurs were hit hard by 6-1 and 6-2 losses to London City Lionesses and Chelsea. Martin Ho insists the squad isn’t ready for a top-level leap yet, saying: “We’re not at that level yet.”

Victoria Pelova, signed in the summer from Arsenal’s north London rivals, has motivation of her own after scoring as many as the entire Arsenal team so far and declares: “We have to beat them.” Denmark midfielder Olivia Holdt also highlighted that playing the derby at the men’s stadium could be an edge, with fans behind Spurs rather than Arsenal.