IN-FORM Women’s Super League leaders Arsenal make the short trip across north London to play Tottenham Women at The Hive on Saturday lunchtime. 

Jonas Eidevall’s buoyant Gunners will be gearing up for the 1.30pm kick-off, to be shown on BBC One, after a comprehensive 5-1 midweek victory in Denmark over HB Koge in the Champions League. 

Goals from Steph Catley, Nikita Parris, Caitlin Foord, Anna Patten and Jordan Nobbs helped the visitors to victory, consolidating second place behind Barcelona Femini — who handed them their only defeat this season last month. 

Eidevall has had a big impact on Arsenal, with the team going from strength to strength since taking over from previous boss Joe Montemurro over the summer, and can also look forward to a date with Chelsea in the Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday December 5 at Wembley. 

Eidevall’s all-conquering side sit proudly at the top of the table, three points ahead of Emma Hayes’s side, having won six out of six league games this term — including beating the Blues 3-2 at the Emirates on the first weekend of the season back in September. 

There is plenty at stake for both sides in the north London derby, with Tottenham sitting in third place under the experienced Rehanne Skinner, after taking over from Karen Hills and Juan Amoros a year ago. 

With four wins from six, and only a single league defeat so far, Spurs have made their best-ever start to a top-flight campaign. A season which has been notable for Skinner’s side picking up results against top teams. 

This impressive run of form includes a 2-1 victory at Manchester City in September and their first-ever league point against Manchester United following a 1-1 draw last month, after losing their previous six matches against the Red Devils. 

While Spurs lost a number of first-team regulars from last year, including Siri Worm, Lucy Quinn and Rianna Dean, they can still boast impressive names including Ashleigh Neville. The England star tends to play as a fullback but still finished as Tottenham’s joint top scorer last year.

Spurs are expected to field a back five with Neville, Shelina Zadorsky, Molly Batrip, Asmita Ale and Kerys Harrop in front of in-form keeper Tinja-Riilla Korpela. While Ria Percival is another with plenty of experience, having played more than 150 times for New Zealand.

South Korea captain Cho So-hyun is another key player, with the experienced 33-year-old joining over the summer on a permanent basis after a successful loan spell last year. All of which underlines the fact former Arsenal assistant boss Skinner has top quality players at her disposal. 

However, while nothing is ever certain in football, certainly not in a north London derby, Eidevall’s side have been on another level domestically this season. As anyone who saw their 5-1 destruction of Spurs in the FA Cup quarter-final at Meadow Park back in September can attest. 

The Gunners form this term has also earned Eidevall the WSL Manager of the Month for October, with Katie McCabe being awarded WSL Player of the Month at the same time. 

Wherever you look, Arsenal have star quality. England captain Leah Williamson is in imperious form. Beth Mead is set to return after only playing 30 minutes of the 5-1 win over Koge in midweek, while Kim Little could also make the starting XI.

Star striker Viv Miedema is raring to go after a short break following the previous round of internationals after also missing the 4-0 rout of West Ham last time out — to make Arsenal big favourites to beat Spurs this weekend. 

While this fixture still holds the record for the biggest WSL crowd, when Arsenal eased past Hills’s side 2-0 in front of 38,262 at the new White Hart Lane back in 2019, Saturday’s match will be played at Barnet’s ground. 

With no men’s Premier League football this weekend due to the international break, both sides are hoping for as many fans as possible to be in attendance.