Tottenham vs Arsenal Women: How Arsenal Can Win the North London Derby

Are we looking forward to tomorrow’s game? I kind of am, especially since Saturday gives us a chance to see whether Renée Slegers is prepared to change what clearly hasn't been working.

We've spent too much time over the last few weeks talking about Arsenal's problems. We've discussed defeat against Manchester City, draws with Birmingham, Palace, and Man United, team selections, substitutions, and the increasingly familiar feeling that we're watching a group of very talented players struggle to produce anything like the football we know they're capable of.

But today I want to focus on solutions.

Because ultimately, that's what matters now, isn't it? We can spend weeks debating who's responsible for Arsenal's disappointing start to the season, but at some point we have to start looking at what needs to happen on the pitch to turn things around.

Also, I can’t take another weekend of dissecting yet another disappointing performance and result!

And I think Tottenham provides us with a very interesting test.

Now, Spurs are having a bumpy start to the season themselves. They started brilliantly with convincing wins over Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, and for a while it looked like they might be ready to take another significant step forward this season.

But then London City Lionesses put six past them, and Chelsea followed that up with another six last weekend.

Twelve goals conceded in two games, which is quite something, especially for a team that started the season looking so impressive.

But I don't think we should assume that means Tottenham are suddenly a rubbish team. They've got some really good players, they've recruited intelligently and Martin Ho has done an impressive job developing the team since taking charge.

And there's one player in particular I will probably spend some time on today, because Victoria Pelova has made a fantastic start to life at Tottenham since leaving Arsenal.

She's already scored five league goals, and she'll be facing some very familiar faces on Saturday. 

But first, I want to look at what Tottenham have done well this season, why they've suddenly started conceding so many goals, and any weaknesses Arsenal should exploit.

Then we'll turn our attention to Renée's team selection, because I think, yet again, she's got some big decisions to make, and we’ll be praying she finally makes them.

Mariona Caldentey will be missing for a while with her hamstring injury, Selina Cerci is also unavailable after knee surgery, and there are still questions about the availability of other players, but she still has plenty of options. 

For me, the question isn't simply who's available; it's whether she's prepared to use those players in positions where they can have the greatest impact.

Has Renée looked at what's happened over the last few games, and is she prepared to make the adjustments we are all crying out for?

Because while beating Tottenham would be amazing, I want to see more than just three points.

I want to see an Arsenal team that looks confident, organised, and capable of creating chances without relying on a moment of individual brilliance to rescue us.

So, let's start with Tottenham, because Martin Ho's side has more to offer than the twelve goals they've conceded in the last fortnight.

Tottenham: What’s Working, What’s Gone Wrong, and Where Can Arsenal Hurt Them?

First, put Tottenham's last two results aside for a moment, because if you only look at those games, you'd think Martin Ho's team is in more of a mess than we are.

Six goals conceded against London City Lionesses, another six against Chelsea, and suddenly a team that had been looking quite exciting is being talked about as though the wheels have completely fallen off.

But I don't think that fairly reflects the progress Tottenham have made so far this season, and Arsenal are in danger if we go into Saturday assuming Spurs will be as accommodating defensively as they've been in their last couple of games.

Because before those defeats, Tottenham were playing some really good football.

They beat Crystal Palace 7–0, and I know what you're thinking. Yep, that's the same Crystal Palace side Arsenal had thirty shots against and couldn't score past.

Then Tottenham followed that up by beating Aston Villa 4–0. So in two league games, they scored 11 goals without conceding.

Obviously, those results don't automatically make Tottenham better than Arsenal, but I think they tell us something important about how Martin Ho wants his team to play.

Tottenham aren't simply sitting back, waiting for opponents to make mistakes and hoping they can nick a goal on the counterattack. They're trying to play progressive, attacking football. They want to move the ball forward quickly, get players into dangerous positions and create opportunities through combinations around the penalty area.

And there's a real emphasis on winning possession back quickly when they lose it.

I was reading some analysis from Opta about how Tottenham have developed under Martin Ho, and one of the things that stood out was how much more purposeful they've become in possession. They're not necessarily making fewer passes, but they're moving the ball forward more quickly and trying to get into dangerous areas earlier.

Arsenal will have to be very careful, because we've seen what happens when teams move the ball through our midfield and attack the spaces behind our full-backs.

Manchester City caused us problems doing exactly that; Birmingham recognised the weakness and changed tactics in-game last weekend to take advantage.

So if we're going to play with our full-backs pushing high up the pitch, which I think we should when the opportunities are there, then our midfield has to provide protection.

We can't have both full-backs bombing forward, losing possession in a dangerous area, and then finding ourselves with two centre-backs desperately trying to defend half the pitch.

We've seen too much of that already.

But there's another side to Tottenham's approach, and this is where I think Arsenal have a real opportunity: if you’re going to play an ambitious style of football, especially when trying to build attacks from the back, you have to handle pressure well.

Over the last couple of games, Tottenham have found that very difficult.

Now, I wouldn't suggest every one of those twelve goals they shipped came from exactly the same problem, but those results do raise questions about how well Tottenham can maintain their attacking approach when they're playing stronger opponents prepared to put them under pressure.

And Martin Ho himself has acknowledged the importance of recognising when his team needs to play more directly rather than becoming predictable in possession. 

Which brings us to Arsenal, because Saturday presents a great opportunity to rediscover something that seems to have gone missing from our game recently.

That aggressive, coordinated pressing we saw during pre-season.

And when I say pressing, I don't simply mean Alessia Russo running towards a centre-back while everyone else stands around watching; I mean the whole team moving together.

If Alessia pressures the player with the ball, the players behind her have to close off passing options. If Tottenham try to play into midfield, we need someone ready to challenge for possession, and if we win the ball back, I want us looking to attack immediately, before Tottenham have the chance to get back and organised.

One thing that's really frustrated me about Arsenal so far this season is how often we let opponents settle into their defensive shape. We move the ball from side to side, look for an opening, go backwards, and start again, and before you know it, eight or nine opposition players are standing between us and the goal.

There’s nothing wrong with patient possession when it creates an opportunity, but I think we need to be a bit more aggressive.

Win the ball. Look forward. Attack the space.

Tottenham's willingness to play out from the back might give us opportunities to do exactly that.

But there's one player who could make that a bit more difficult, and I think we need to talk about her.

Victoria Pelova.

Now, I have to say, watching Victoria make such an impressive start at Tottenham has been quite something. Five league goals already, just six games into the season. That's a remarkable return, especially when you consider she wasn't exactly scoring for fun at Arsenal. 

That's what makes her such an interesting player to discuss in the context of everything we've been talking about recently, because she clearly had the ability. We knew that when she was at Arsenal, and we saw glimpses of what she could do with her movement, close control, and ability to carry the ball through midfield.

But I don't think we consistently saw the attacking influence she has now at Tottenham. I'm not suggesting that means Arsenal made a terrible mistake letting her leave, or that Martin Ho is somehow a better coach than Renée Slegers just because Victoria's scoring goals.

It's more complicated than that, but it does demonstrate how much difference a player's role within a team can make.

At Tottenham, Victoria is getting into dangerous attacking positions and making those opportunities count. She's arriving in the penalty area, finding space, and looking increasingly confident in front of goal, and that's exactly what we've been discussing with Arsenal's own players.

Are we using them in ways that make the most of their strengths?

Because sometimes the difference between a player looking ordinary or looking absolutely outstanding isn't necessarily the player herself. It's the responsibilities she's been given and the way the team around her operates.

Victoria's going to be eager to make an impression against her former club, so Arsenal need to be aware of where she is, especially when Tottenham move the ball into attacking areas.

But she's not the only one; I think we need to watch Signe Gaupset carefully. She's been one of Tottenham's most important creative influences, able to receive the ball between the lines, carry it forward, and create chances for the players around her.

Then you've got Kirsty Hanson, who arrived after an excellent season at Aston Villa, bringing experience, goals, and another attacking threat. This Tottenham side has players who can hurt Arsenal if we give them the opportunity.

But equally, I look at their defensive record over the last two games and think we should go into Saturday with real confidence in our ability to create chances.

We cannot expect, for a second, that because of their last two disastrous results we’ll just run over them, but I want us to recognise that while this is a team with attacking ambition, it's also shown it can be vulnerable when opponents put it under sustained pressure.

And that's where I think the game could be won.

If Arsenal can press together as they did in pre-season, recover possession in dangerous areas, KEEP IT, and move the ball forward quickly, I think we can cause Tottenham massive problems.

But if we let them play through our midfield, give Victoria Pelova time and space around the penalty area, and leave ourselves exposed when we lose possession, then we're asking for trouble.

And after what happened against Manchester City and Birmingham, I’m desperate not to spend another afternoon discovering that lesson the hard way.

So that's Tottenham, a team that's made some impressive progress, has some very dangerous attacking players, but has also shown significant defensive weaknesses over the last couple of weeks.

Which brings us to the question I've been waiting to get to: who should Renée Slegers pick to exploit those weaknesses?

I've got some fairly strong opinions about that, and a few of you dedicated Trailblazers already know where this is going.

Arsenal’s Starting Eleven: It’s Time For Renée to Try Something Different

This is the bit of the preview I've been looking forward to, because I've spent a lot of time thinking about how I'd set Arsenal up against Tottenham, and I think I've come up with a starting eleven that could cause them serious problems.

Before anyone gets too excited, no, I'm not suggesting that I know more about coaching a football team than Renée Slegers. She's won the Champions League, and I spend most of my working day making suits and shirts. I'm very aware of the difference!

But I've watched and analysed enough of Arsenal this season to have some pretty strong opinions about where we're struggling, and I think we could make changes without completely reinventing the way we play.

So here's my team, assuming everyone I've selected is available.

I'd start with Misa Rodríguez in goal. Emily Fox at right-back, Leah Williamson and Steph Catley at centre-back, and Taylor Hinds at left-back.

Then I'd have Kim Little sitting in front of that back four, with Lisa Baum on the right, Georgia Stanway and Olivia Smith ahead of Kim, Géraldine Reuteler playing as our number 10, and Alessia Russo leading the line.

Written down, that might look a little unusual, especially with Kim (sorry, couldn’t resist that one) sitting on her own in midfield and Georgia playing further forward. And I should say straightaway that I'm not imagining five players standing in a straight line behind Alessia. 

I'm looking for a team that can change shape depending on where the ball is, with players comfortable moving into different positions and understanding when they need to support one another.

The players I've selected could give us that.

Let's start at the back.

Misa keeps her place for me. I don't think there's any great debate to be had there at the moment. But tactically, her ability on her left, combining with fellow left footers Steph Catley and Taylor Hinds, will give us more stability, confidence and dynamism when turning over possession and starting attacks from that side.

Ahead of her, I want to see Emily Fox back in the starting eleven, and I think that's a really important decision.

When Emily came on against Birmingham, she immediately gave us something we'd been missing. She was positive, wanted to get forward, and looked ready to take responsibility for making things happen.

I know she won't solve every problem on her own, but I think her ability to move up and down that right-hand side will be especially useful against Tottenham.

With Lisa Baum playing ahead of her, you've got two players who can cause problems in different ways. Lisa can stretch the pitch and attack space, while Emily can provide support, overlap when the opportunity is there and help us maintain possession further up the field.

And importantly, Emily's got the pace and defensive awareness to recover quickly when we lose the ball, because that's been a big, big problem for Arsenal recently.

We're committing players forward, but we don't always protect ourselves when possession changes hands. Against a Tottenham team with players like Victoria Pelova and Signe Gaupset, we cannot afford to be careless.

In central defence, I'm backing Leah Williamson and Steph Catley over Lotte Wubben-Moy. Lotte has been an important part of this team, but I’m not sure about her partnership with Leah, especially when Lotte is used on the left side of defence. I think it can actually leave us a bit more exposed, and I like the balance Leah and Steph could give us.

Leah's ability to bring the ball out from the back and pick passes through the lines is something Arsenal need more of. Steph brings experience, composure and a left foot that could be really useful when we're trying to move the ball quickly into midfield.

I also think having Steph at centre-back gives us the opportunity to address something that's been bothering me for weeks. 

Left-back. I think we have to sit Ona on the bench and start Taylor Hinds there tomorrow.

I've said this before, but I don't understand why we keep finding ourselves discussing problems on that side of the pitch when we have a specialist left-back available.

Taylor might not be the finished article in every respect; Renée may want her to improve certain areas of her game, and that's perfectly reasonable, but against Paris FC she looked more secure and confident than Ona has since the start of the season.

She's comfortable in that position, understands her defensive responsibilities, and can get forward to support attacks. With Olivia Smith playing ahead of her, that left-hand side could become a real strength for Arsenal.

Olivia is one of those players who makes things happen; we saw that against Birmingham with her equaliser. She didn't wait for someone else to create the perfect opportunity. She took responsibility, finished beautifully, and rescued a point.

I want to see more of that. I want Olivia receiving the ball in areas where she can attack defenders, use her pace and create problems. I don't want her spending the entire afternoon isolated on the touchline, waiting for a pass while Arsenal move the ball backwards and sideways across the midfield.

Give her the ball, give her support, and let her run at people. With Taylor behind her, we've got the potential for a really exciting partnership.

The midfield is where things get interesting. I love Kyra, and she’s been fantastic so far this season, but I'm starting Kim Little if she’s fit and ready to come back. I want her sitting in front of the defence, providing that calmness and connection between the back four and the attacking players.

Because calmness is one of the things Arsenal have been missing in midfield lately. Someone who knows when to move the ball quickly, when to slow things down, when to hold her position and when to step forward.

Kim has been doing that at the highest level for years. She won't necessarily be the player making a spectacular forty-yard pass or charging into the penalty area every five minutes, although she's absolutely capable of contributing further forward.

What I want from her on Saturday is control, because that’s the thing we've been lacking.

But there's a condition attached to playing Kim in that role; we can't leave her completely isolated.

If Tottenham are attacking through the middle, Georgia Stanway must recognise when she needs to drop alongside Kim. Géraldine Reuteler has to help close down passing options, and the wide players need to understand their defensive responsibilities.

Otherwise, we're asking Kim to cover a big amount of space on her own, and that’s not sensible, so this isn't a rigid formation. It's a starting point.

When Arsenal have possession, Georgia can move forward and help us create chances. When we lose the ball, she can drop back and support Kim. 

That's why I want Georgia playing in a slightly more advanced role; I think we're wasting some of her qualities by asking her to sit so deep.

She has a wonderful range of passing, can drive forward with the ball, and can score goals from outside the penalty area. We've seen all of that throughout her career so far, and Arsenal need to start using it better.

Imagine Georgia receiving the ball twenty-five yards from Tottenham's goal, with Alessia making a run ahead of her, Géraldine finding space between the lines and Olivia and Lisa stretching the defence.

That's a different proposition from Georgia collecting the ball ten yards in front of our own centre-backs and trying to work out how to get through nine opposition players.

And then there's Géraldine.

Now, I can hear some of you laughing, or sighing, because I seem to have spent half my time recently talking about Géraldine Reuteler.

But I make absolutely no apology for it. She absolutely has to start at number 10 against Tottenham.

Her movement, intelligence, and ability to find space could make a huge difference to how we attack, and against Tottenham, especially if they're struggling to maintain their defensive organisation, she will be really important.

Géraldine doesn't need acres of space to influence a game. She's very good at finding little pockets between defenders, receiving the ball under pressure and making quick decisions.

If we've got Georgia looking to play forward, Alessia making runs ahead of her, and Olivia and Lisa attacking from wide positions, Géraldine could become the player who connects everything together.

That's what I want to see. We must give her more than fifteen minutes at the end of a game; she has to start so we can find out, and she has the chance to show us that it can work.

Which brings me to Alessia Russo.

I'm going to keep this relatively brief because we've discussed it so many times recently; Alessia is my number 9.

End of discussion.

Well, not quite, because this is a podcast and I'm contractually obliged to carry on talking. But seriously, I think Alessia is at her best leading the line, occupying centre-backs, linking play, and getting into positions where she can score goals.

She's an intelligent footballer, and I understand why Renée wants to use her deeper at times, but just because a player can do something doesn't mean that's where you get the best out of her.

With Géraldine available to play at number 10, I don't see why we need to keep moving Alessia away from the position where she's been so effective.

So that's my eleven.

To recap: Misa in goal. Fox, Williamson, Catley and Hinds across the back. Kim Little providing the midfield foundation. Lisa Baum, Georgia Stanway and Olivia Smith ahead of her. Géraldine Reuteler connecting midfield and attack, and Alessia Russo as our number 9.

What I like about that team is the options it gives us. Pace on both wings, creativity through the middle, experience at the back, and players comfortable changing positions as the game develops.

Most importantly, I think it puts several players in their best positions so they can contribute most.

Whether Renée agrees with me is a different matter entirely, and I expect that when we see the team sheet on Saturday, one or two decisions will leave me wanting to throw the remote and the TV screen.

But I hope I'm wrong.

Because I think this Arsenal squad has more than enough quality to beat Tottenham.

The question is: can you put those players together in a way that lets them show it?

That brings us to how I'd approach the game, because picking the right eleven is only half the battle.

How Arsenal Should Approach Tottenham

Once you've picked that starting eleven, we need to talk about what I'd want Arsenal to do with it, because there's no point putting all these exciting attacking players on the pitch if we're then going to spend 90 minutes moving the ball from side to side without really troubling Tottenham's defence.

That's been one of my biggest frustrations recently. We've got players who can run at defenders, find space between the lines, score from distance, and produce something special. But too often, we're making life too comfortable for the opposition.

So first, I'd like to see Arsenal start the game with real intensity.

Not recklessness. I don't want us charging around like headless chickens and leaving big gaps everywhere. We've already seen what happens when we lose our defensive organisation, and I'm not keen on watching Victoria Pelova run through the middle of our team with half the pitch to herself.

But I do want us to make Tottenham uncomfortable, because if I were Martin Ho, having watched my team concede twelve goals in two games, I'd be spending a lot of time this week working on defensive organisation and trying to restore a bit of confidence.

The last thing I'd want is Arsenal arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday and immediately putting my defenders under pressure.

So if I were Renée, I'd have Alessia Russo leading the press, with Géraldine Reuteler close enough behind her to stop Tottenham playing easily into midfield. Lisa Baum and Olivia Smith need to be aggressive in closing down the wide options, and Georgia Stanway has to be ready to step forward when Tottenham try to play through the middle.

But the key is that they move together.

Pressing isn't simply about running towards the player with the ball. It's about making the next pass difficult, forcing your opponent into a decision they don't want to make and then being ready to take advantage when they get it wrong.

Arsenal have got the players to do that really well. We saw glimpses of it in pre-season, when the team looked aggressive and energetic, hunted in packs, and were prepared to win possession high up the pitch. There was a sense that we wanted to dictate what happened rather than simply react to the opposition.

I'd love to see that return. But here's the really important bit. When we win the ball, I want us to do something with it.

Nothing's more frustrating than watching Arsenal recover possession in a promising position, only to play three passes backwards and let the opposition get everyone behind the ball again.

You have to take the opportunity in front of you, and with the team I've selected, we have several ways to do that.

Imagine Tottenham trying to play out from the back. Alessia pressures the centre-back, Géraldine closes off the pass into midfield, and Georgia steps forward to challenge for the ball.

We win possession.

Now, rather than stopping and letting Tottenham reorganise, Georgia immediately looks for Olivia on the left, Lisa on the right, or Géraldine moving into space just outside the penalty area.

Suddenly Tottenham have got a problem. Their defenders have to turn, their midfielders try to recover, and players attack the penalty area before they've had time to get organised.

That's the sort of football I want to see, and I think it's especially important against a Tottenham team that wants to play itself positively. If they commit players forward, we should have opportunities to attack the spaces they leave behind.

That doesn't mean we abandon possession football altogether. There'll be periods when Tottenham sit deeper; we will need to be patient, and the right thing to do is to move the ball around until an opening appears.

But we need to be much better at recognising the difference between being patient and being predictable, and that's where Géraldine Reuteler becomes so important for me, because if Tottenham defend with two fairly compact lines, we need someone who can find space between them.

Géraldine's movement could be absolutely vital.

She won’t be standing in one position waiting for the ball. She’ll move across the pitch, find small gaps, draw defenders toward her, and create opportunities for the players around her.

Sometimes she'll receive the ball and turn. Sometimes she'll play it straight back to Georgia and move into another position. Sometimes she'll make a run beyond Alessia.

Sometimes simply having her in a dangerous area will force a Tottenham midfielder or defender out of position, creating space for someone else.

That's the sort of movement we’ve been missing, and I like the idea of Georgia playing slightly further forward because she can recognise those movements and deliver the ball quickly.

If Géraldine finds a pocket of space, I want Georgia looking for her. If Olivia starts running behind the full-back, I want someone who can make that pass. If Tottenham drop off and leave Georgia twenty-five yards from goal, well, she's got a pretty decent shot on her, hasn't she?

We don't always have to walk the ball into the net.

In fact, one thing I'd really like to see Arsenal do more often is take responsibility for shooting when the opportunity presents itself. Olivia showed us against Birmingham what can happen when a player decides to have a go. I'm not suggesting we start shooting from forty yards every time we get the ball, but I do think we sometimes make scoring goals more complicated than they need to be.

Players like Georgia, Olivia, Lisa, and Alessia are all perfectly capable of testing the goalkeeper from different positions.

Another thing I'd really like to see is better movement around Alessia, because if she's playing as our number 9, I don't want her isolated between two centre-backs with nobody anywhere near her.

She's very good at dropping towards the ball, holding it up and bringing other players into the game. But when she does, someone has to recognise the space she leaves. Maybe Géraldine makes a run beyond her, or Olivia comes inside from the left. Maybe Georgia arrives late into the penalty area.

But we need those movements to be connected, otherwise Alessia drops deep, receives the ball, looks up and discovers everyone else is standing in the same position they were in ten seconds ago, and we're back to square one.

Another aspect of my proposed team that could make a big difference is the relationship between our wide players and full-backs.

On the right, I've got Emily Fox and Lisa Baum, and that could be a really exciting combination because Emily can provide width and support while Lisa can move into different attacking positions.

Sometimes Lisa might stay wide and attack the full-back herself, or move inside, letting Emily overlap. Sometimes Emily might hold her position while Lisa runs behind the defence.

The key is that they don't both try to occupy the same space, and we do see that sometimes when Smilla and Lisa play together, which I think comes down to a bit of inexperience on both their parts.

On the left, I'd like to see Taylor Hinds and Olivia Smith develop a similar understanding, because Olivia's most dangerous when she has the freedom to attack defenders, but she needs support.

If Taylor makes an overlapping run, the opposition defender has to decide. Does she stay with Olivia, or does she follow Taylor?

Even if Olivia doesn't use the overlap, Taylor's movement might create just enough space for her to cut inside and shoot.

That's how you make life difficult for defenders - give them decisions to make! The more difficult those decisions are, the more likely they are to make mistakes.

But what happens when Arsenal lose the ball? 

That’s why I think Kim Little's role would be absolutely crucial. When we're attacking, I want Kim thinking about where the danger might come from if we lose possession.

If Emily Fox goes forward, someone needs to cover the space behind her. If Taylor Hinds supports Olivia, we can't have everyone else charging into the penalty area and forgetting the possibility of a counterattack. If Tottenham win the ball and look to release Victoria Pelova or one of their other attacking players, we need to be ready.

Kim can't do all of that on her own, which is where Georgia Stanway comes in, because even though I've put Georgia in a more advanced role, I still want her helping Kim out when Arsenal don't have possession.

When we're attacking, she can move forward and help create chances, and when we're defending, she can drop alongside Kim and give us a much stronger midfield base. Hopefully, with Leah and Steph in the middle of defence, she won’t have to do that too often, and that’s a much better use of her qualities than simply asking her to sit deep for ninety minutes.

The other thing I want to see is Arsenal managing the game properly, I know, I know, that sounds so obvious, but after what happened against Birmingham City, we need to talk about it.

We can't keep letting games slip away when the momentum shifts. If Tottenham have a good ten-minute spell, that's fine; they're playing at home, they've got talented players, and they're going to create opportunities.

But Arsenal have to recognise when the game needs calming down. Sometimes that means keeping possession a little longer, or dropping five yards deeper and making ourselves harder to play through. Sometimes it means making a substitution before the opposition have completely taken control.

And this is where Renée has to be prepared to react. One thing that's frustrated me recently (actually, I was apoplectic at the Birmingham game) is the feeling that we're waiting too long to make changes, and I don't want to see that on Saturday.

If something isn't working after an hour, let's address it. If a player is struggling, let's give someone else an opportunity. If Tottenham change their approach, let's make sure we're ready to respond.

We shouldn't have to wait until we've conceded a goal before deciding something needs to change, and that's the biggest thing I want to see from Arsenal this weekend: a proactive, not reactive, team.

A team that goes into the game with a clear plan but can also adjust it (and a manager with the courage of her convictions) when circumstances change.

We've got more than enough talent to win this north London derby, and if we can combine that talent with some better organisation, quicker attacking play and a little more aggression when we don't have the ball, I think we could make life extremely difficult for Tottenham.

But the key is doing it for ninety minutes. Not fifteen minutes here and there.

And definitely not by waiting until we're chasing the game to start playing with urgency.

So, having looked at the team I'd select, and how I'd approach Saturday, there's just one thing left to discuss: what do I actually think will happen?

Given Arsenal's recent performances, I feel I'm about to make a prediction that could, like all the other predictions I’ve made so far this season, come back to haunt me rather spectacularly.

Trailblazers Score Prediction

Here we are then. Another north London derby, and another opportunity for Arsenal to make me look either really clever or completely stupid with my prediction.

Given how the last few weeks have gone, I'm not entirely sure which way this will go!

But I do think Arsenal will win on Saturday. I have to. We have to.

And I say that for a couple of reasons.

First, despite everything we've discussed about our recent performances, I still believe we've got a much stronger squad than Tottenham. We've got players who've won major trophies, performed at the highest level internationally and who are more than capable of taking control of a game like this.

Second, Tottenham's recent defensive problems present us with a real opportunity. Twelve goals conceded in two games is crazy, and although I'm sure Martin Ho will have spent plenty of time working on those issues during the week, I don't think they're going to disappear overnight.

There's a third reason, and it's probably the most important one.

I think Arsenal have really got something to prove. Not just to the supporters, but to themselves.

When you've got a squad containing this much talent, and you're struggling to get results, there comes a point when the players must be every bit as frustrated as those of us watching. Those of us in the Emirates Stadium last Saturday saw it in the players after the final whistle, especially in Leah Williamson.

I want to see that frustration turned into something positive on Saturday. I want to see an Arsenal team that looks determined from the first whistle, wants to win the ball back, attack, and make Tottenham really uncomfortable.

And above all, I want to see evidence that we've learned from what's happened over the last few weeks.

I don't think we're going to solve every problem in ninety minutes.

Even if we go out and beat Tottenham convincingly, that doesn't suddenly answer all the questions we've been asking about Renée Slegers, the coaching structure, and how we're using our players.

But it would be a really positive start, and that's really what I'm looking for.

Some progress. Some signs that we're moving in the right direction. And hopefully three points against our north London neighbours, which would make the weekend much more enjoyable than the last few.

So, my prediction?

I'm going to say Tottenham 1, Arsenal 3.

I think Tottenham will cause us problems, especially if we leave ourselves exposed in midfield, and I wouldn't be surprised if Victoria Pelova has a big say; the script is there, begging to be written.

But I believe Arsenal have enough attacking quality to exploit Tottenham's defensive weaknesses, and if we can get Alessia Russo into the right areas, give Olivia Smith chances to run at defenders, and get Géraldine Reuteler properly involved from the start, I think we will score a few goals.

It would be so great to finish an Arsenal game talking about the football we've enjoyed rather than spending another hour trying to work out why we didn't make a substitution until the seventy-eighth minute. Honestly, I will lose the will to carry on.

Anyway, that's my prediction. 3-1 to the Arsenal.

I'd love to hear yours, and I'd really like to know what you think of my starting eleven. 

Would you bring Kim Little straight back into the team if she's fit? Would you start Taylor Hinds at left-back? And surely, SURELY, it's time to give Géraldine Reuteler a start?

Or am I missing something?