Martha Thomas on target as Spurs stun Arsenal in WSL north London derby

Tottenham’s Martha Thomas is surrounded by her teammates after scoring the only goal of the game against Arsenal. Pic: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images

Football is defined by a series of moments. An inch here and there, a tackle that is a second too late, a ball that flies agonisingly wide of its target. As the 58th minute struck at a tense Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham took their moment superbly, a goal from Martha Thomas sending the home crowd wild. It earned a 1-0 victory, their first in a north London derby, that put a dent in Arsenal’s title aspirations.

The buzz was palpable as more than 20,000 spectators filed in for Spurs’ first game in their main stadium this season. Robert Vilahamn has breathed new life into a team that flirted with relegation at times in 2022-23. Despite coming into this match off the back of two league defeats, confidence has remained.