Match ends, Arsenal Women 6, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1.
Arsenal WomenArsenal Women6Tottenham WomenTottenham Hotspur Women1
Vivianne Miedema became the first player to reach 50 Women's Super League goals as Arsenal thrashed Tottenham.
Needing one goal to eclipse Nikita Parris' all-time WSL record of 49, Miedema claimed a first-half hat-trick, with Katie McCabe and Caitlin Foord also on target before the break.
Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger saved Rianna Dean's second-half penalty before Foord grabbed her second.
Lucia Leon headed in a consolation, but Arsenal made it five wins from five.
Miedema made her piece of history with a low finish from a tight angle after McCabe had given the hosts an early lead with a brilliant curling free-kick.
The game was as good as over inside 15 minutes when the Spurs defence failed to deal with a long ball and Foord ran on to slot past keeper Becky Spencer.
A quickfire double from Miedema put the hosts out of sight by half-time, the first via a deflection from an acute angle before the Dutch international combined with Foord to tap in her 12th goal in her past six WSL games.
The visitors had a chance to restore some pride after the break when McCabe brought down Leon, but Zinsberger kept out Dean's spot-kick.
Foord rubbed salt in the wound via a deflected sixth - Arsenal's 29th league goal in five games this term - but Spurs had the final word thanks to Leon's bullet header.
The win sent Arsenal two points clear at the top after Everton were held to a draw by Brighton.
Record-breaker Miedema maintains ruthless form
While strikers are often placed in the elite category if they manage a ratio of a goal every two games, Miedema has a staggering WSL average of better than a goal a game, netting 52 times in just 50 appearances for the Gunners.
After topping the WSL scoring charts for the past two campaigns, the 24-year-old has been in blistering form in 2020, netting in each of her past six WSL fixtures.
Modelling her game on prolific Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie when growing up, Miedema made her senior debut for Heerenveen aged just 15, and top-scored in the Dutch women's league in 2013-14 with 39 goals.
She top-scored at the Uefa Women's Under-19s Championship that summer as the Netherlands took the title, and was snapped up by Bayern Munich where she won two Bundesliga winner's medals.
On the senior international stage, Miedema bagged eight goals at the Women's European Championships in 2017, helping the Dutch women to their first major silverware before swapping Germany for north London that summer.
Line-ups
Arsenal Women
- 1Zinsberger
- 22Schnaderbeck
- 6Williamson
- 5Beattie
- 15McCabeBooked at 75mins
- 21Gut
- 13Wälti
- 7van de DonkSubstituted forMaceat 77'minutes
- 9Mead
- 11MiedemaSubstituted forWubben-Moyat 65'minutes
- 19FoordSubstituted forDentonat 90'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Wubben-Moy
- 18Williams
- 30Mace
- 31Denton
Tottenham Women
- 22Spencer
- 29Neville
- 6FilbeySubstituted forWormat 57'minutes
- 3Zadorsky
- 5HarropBooked at 36mins
- 18KennedySubstituted forSulolaat 90+1'minutes
- 12PercivalBooked at 68mins
- 7DavisonSubstituted forAyaneat 38'minutes
- 19QuinnSubstituted forLeonat 39'minutes
- 14Addison
- 9DeanBooked at 61mins
Substitutes
- 2Leon
- 4Green
- 10Williams
- 15Worm
- 23Ayane
- 24Whitehouse
- 33Sulola
- Referee:
- Abigail Byrne
Match Stats
Home TeamArsenal WomenAway TeamTottenham Women
- Possession
- Home69%
- Away31%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal Women 6, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1.
Post update
Offside, Arsenal Women. Leah Williamson tries a through ball, but Viktoria Schnaderbeck is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Elisha Sulola replaces Alanna Kennedy because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal Women. Anouk Denton replaces Caitlin Foord.
Post update
Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Ashleigh Neville.
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Attempt missed. Alanna Kennedy (Tottenham Hotspur Women) header from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ashleigh Neville with a cross.
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Foul by Malin Gut (Arsenal Women).
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Lucia Leon (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Shelina Zadorsky (Tottenham Hotspur Women) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Siri Worm with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Conceded by Jennifer Beattie.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal Women. Ruby Mace replaces Daniëlle van de Donk.
Goal!
Goal! Arsenal Women 6, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1. Lucia Leon (Tottenham Hotspur Women) header from the right side of the six yard box to the top right corner. Assisted by Siri Worm with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Conceded by Manuela Zinsberger.
Booking
Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women).
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Rosella Ayane (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Siri Worm (Tottenham Hotspur Women) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.
Post update
Foul by Malin Gut (Arsenal Women).
Post update
Angela Addison (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
