Women’s Super League

THE Women’s Super League North London Derby was briefly paused due to a medical emergency on Saturday.Play was halted in the 82nd minute with several stewards called to the away end at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham vs Arsenal was paused due to a medical emergencyCredit: Sky Sports
Medics rushed across the pitch to the incidentCredit: Getty
At least five club medics rushed to the sceneCredit: Getty
Both medical teams then rushed across the pitch to tend to the supporter.
Players on the pitch could be seen directing the medical experts to where they were needed before themselves then congregating by the dugout.
Play was stopped for around five minutes before resuming.
It is not clear what the exact nature of the emergency was and neither club has issued an update on the status of the supporter.
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The pause in play meant 11 minutes of additional time were added.
Tottenham went on to win the match 1-0 and claim their first-ever WSL victory over Arsenal.
Martha Thomas scored the decisive goal in the 58th minute following a brilliant build-up from Spurs.
The result leaves Arsenal second in the WSL table, with Spurs in sixth.
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A win would have seen the Gunners go top of the league following last week’s impressive 4-1 win over Chelsea.
Emma Hayes’ side will now have the chance to extend their advantage at the top once again when they face Bristol City on Sunday.
Speaking after the match, goalscorer Thomas told Sky Sports: “It’s a great win for us. It’s been a tough week but I think we really deserved that. We put on a performance that we can be really proud of.
“We made a lot of changes on Wednesday [in the League Cup vs Arsenal] and put in a good performance then and thought we could continue that today.
“The manager felt that the same team deserved to go out and play again today minus the one change. That’s what we did.
“He told us to enjoy ourselves, play with freedom, like he always does. But we’ve come off the back of two bad results in the league so we know we can compete against these teams and we have shown that today.”
Arsenal next face Everton after the winter break on January 20, while Tottenham take on Sheffield United in the FA Cup on January 14. More

ENI ALUKO and JAMIE CARRAGHER have urged the public to vote for their heroes as the prestigious Women’s Football Awards returns in 2024.The former England duo hosted the inaugural awards ceremony last year – which saw Alessia Russo scoop player of the year.
Jamie Carragher and Eni Aluko have urged fans to vote in this year’s awardsCredit: PA
Her then club, Manchester United, won club of the year.
Barcelona’s Keira Walsh and Chelsea and England star Lauren James also took home major accolades. 
Co-host Aluko said: “This is Britain and Europe’s biggest award event for women’s football and is returning at a very exciting moment for the game. 
“The Women’s Football Awards World Cup follows a fantastic World Cup tournament, a thrilling start to the women’s football season and while the phenomenal growth of our game continues. 
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“This is the only awards event for women’s football where the public decides the shortlist and so we’re encouraging as many people to take part and nominate now. 
“The Women’s Football Awards is an inspirational event and will  recognise those on and off the pitch who are raising the bar for women’s football.”
Meanwhile CBS host Carragher, who will also present the ceremony said: “The Women’s Football Awards is special because it not only celebrates the success on the pitch but shines a light on the people and organisations working behind-the scenes- to push the growth of the game forward. 
“I am excited to be involved again and encourage the public to nominate now.”
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Lauren James and Missy Bo Kearns pose with their awards for ‘young football players of the year’
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The awards ceremony celebrates the superstars of women’s football all the way down to the heroes of the grassroots game who empower women in football.
There were two lifetime achievement awards given out with former England captain Carol Thomas was awarded a special recognition award for her efforts advancing the game after the FA ban on women’s football was lifted in 1971 after 50 years.
And broadcaster and former Lioness Karen Carney was also recognised with a lifetime achievement award.
Brands who have invested in growing women’s football such as Three Mobile, VISA and Arnold Clark were also recognised.
Nominations for the 2024 awards are now open to the public and there are several categories, including: Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Women’s Football Broadcaster and Journalist of the Year, Football Business of the Year, World Cup Player of the Year and the Off The Pitch award.
Women’s football fans can nominate their heroes of the game between now and February, when the final shortlist will be unveiled ahead of the star-studded awards gala on May 30th following the culmination of the Women’s Super League campaign.
Alessia Russo was recognised for her form at her previous club Manchester UnitedCredit: Reuters More

EMMA HAYES slammed the  “disgusting amount of abuse” directed at Lauren James following Chelsea’s loss to Arsenal in the WSL on Sunday. The Blues boss Blues compared the online trolling of the forward to the vitriol aimed at David Beckham after his 1998 World Cup red card.  
Emma Hayes says the level of abuse Lauren James has endured online is unacceptable
Chelsea criticised derogatory comments aimed at the forward following her challenge on Lia Walti during a clash with Arsenal
Hayes, 46, was speaking ahead of her side’s Women’s Champions League clash with BK Hacken at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening
The group stage duel between her side and the Swedish giants comes four days after James, 22, made headlines for an off the ball challenge on Arsenal ace Lia Walti
The incident which occurred in the second-half of the Blues and Gunners’ clash at the Emirates, was captured in BBC Sport footage. 
James was given a yellow card for an apparent stamp on Walti’s foot. 
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The clip went viral on social media platform X with some of the forum’s users posting derogatory comments and insults about James. 
It comes four months after the Lionesses starlet was sent off for treading on the back of Nigeria player Michelle Alozie during England’s last-16 defeat of Nigeria at the World Cup.
Walti, whose Gunners side take on Tottenham in the league on Saturday, also called out the derogatory comments aimed at James.
The Arsenal ace, whose team beat Spurs in the Conti Cup on Wednesday, defended the Blues player via her official X account.
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She tweeted: “I initially didn’t want to say anything, but I can’t look away.
“I absolutely can’t stand any sort of abuse – online abuse and any other sort of discrimination is disgusting.
“No one gets better by putting others down!!!”

On Monday Chelsea issued a written statement condemning “the online abuse directed towards James”.
The club also stated that it stands “strongly against any form of discriminatory behaviour.”
Hayes said: “It’s disgusting the amount of abuse she has received from the public, from the media and from the press. 
“We’re talking about a young player here that, no question, is always working to learn in the background and bits and bobs.
“But some of the language I’ve seen used to vilify her externally, I think is unacceptable. 
“I don’t see the same level of abuse attributed to other players in the league, who have had their own challenging moments. 
“And I think it’s fair to say that, if I’m in her position, I’d be thinking that there is racial profiling going on.”
Hayes, whose side are second in their Champions League group, sees parallels between the trolling of James and the abuse of Beckham during the early stage of his England career. 
The iconic former Three Lions captain was sent off for kicking the leg of Argentina captain Diego Simeone during a World Cup knockout match which his side lost on penalties.
In a Netflix documentary the Man United icon said the incident “brought a lot of attention”  that he would never wish on anyone.
Following the match and tournament Beckham was on the receiving end of vile abuse from some football fans including members of the public haranguing him on the streets. 
Hayes added: “Lauren is a young player and she made an error in the summer. 
“Of course, she has to keep learning those things, but they aren’t done in like single segments..
“Managing emotions comes with maturity, and that isn’t there yet with her. 
“But it reminds me very much of David Beckham in many ways when he got red-carded at the (1998) World Cup. 
David Beckham was subjected to vile abuse from the public after being sent off during England’s World Cup clash with Argentina in 1998
“I think the treatment of Lauren sometimes is very similar.
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“We have to realise for a young person in a day and age where social media is unbelievably vitriolic.
“Some of the nasty language and labelling and name calling, it goes over the edge, to be honest with you.” More

ALEX SCOTT did not let the rain get her down as she watched Arsenal batter Chelsea on Sunday.The former England defender hosted the BBC’s coverage of the Women’s Super League clash from the Emirates Stadium.
Alex Scott nailed ‘plastique chic’ as she watched Arsenal thrash Chelsea in the WSLCredit: instagram/alexscott2
Scott presented the BBC’s coverage of the Gunners’ 4-1 win on SundayCredit: Rex
Scott was snapped with huge grin on her face during the Gunners’ 4-1 win over their title rivals.
Reporter Jo Currie shared a picture of Scott using a plastic hood to shield herself from the rain.
She also wore a black scarf and grey blazer in the stands, with Currie writing: “@alexscott2 nailing the #PlastiqueChic.”
Scott’s former club handed Chelsea their first league defeat of the season in front of a record WSL crowd in North London.
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Goals from Beth Mead, Amanda Ilestedt and Alessia Russo (two) sealed a comfortable home victory.
Fans had earlier hailed Scott as “total class” after she took aim at Joey Barton’s recent sexist rants.
The presenter had previously laughed off his claim that she “shouldn’t comment on the men’s game”.
Scott has been vocal in her opposition to the ex-Manchester City midfielder’s social media outbursts.
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Alessia Russo scored twice as Arsenal won in front of a record attendanceCredit: Getty
Prior to becoming a fan-favourite pundit and presenter, the 39-year-old won 140 caps for the Lionesses as well as representing Team GB at the London Olympics in 2012.
She also won 21 major trophies across three spells with Arsenal, including six league titles, seven FA Cups and the Champions League.
Scott, who was awarded an MBE for her services to football in 2017, is now fronts both Football Focus and the BBC’s WSL coverage. More

JONAS EIDEVALL reckons Arsenal’s dominance of Chelsea was reminiscent of Barcelona’s past defeats of the Blues. Beth Mead and Alessia Russo were among the scorers during the Gunners’ storming 4-1 victory at the Emirates on Sunday.
Beth Mead got Arsenal off to a flier netting her first goal at the Emirates this season
Alessia Russo was named player of the match after netting twice during the Gunners’ 4-1 watched by a crowd of more than 59,000
Jonas Eidevall says Arsenal dominated the ball in manner that was similar to Barcelona during their wins against Chelsea in the Women’s Champions League
Their performance and defeat of their rivals was watched largest crowd at a WSL game to date with more 59,000 spectators at the stadium.
At the ground where she injured her knee last November,  Mead and player of the match Russo were on fire along with their team-mates.
Goals in the game played this afternoon included two scored in two minutes as they threw down a title gauntlet going level on points with the league leaders. 
Eidevall, whose Gunners are currently second, said: “The way we managed the ball against Chelsea, I haven’t seen any team apart from Barcelona doing that well against them. 
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“It’s our strongest performance so far this season but in football if you want to win anything it’s about being consistent in performances. 
“What is telling for me when you see the reaction – yes we’re happy – but at the end of the day it is our finishing position in the league that will matter.”
Bullied was the word Emma Hayes used to describe how Chelsea fared in the first clash between the two sides this team 
Their London rivals, who they have not beaten away on four occasions in the WSL, had just five shots on target netting four of them. 
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Blues boss Hayes said: “That’s as bad as I’ve seen us for a long time. The better team won by a country mile. 
“They bullied us. They dominated in the duels, all phases of our play were poor. “That (performance) was not our best, that’s probably us at our very worst.”
It took just eight minutes before the deadlock was broken by Eidevall’s side 
Mead underlined her return to form unleashing a shot into the top of the net after being teed up by Victoria Pelova. 
It was her first goal scored at the Emirates this term. 
Chelsea, skippered by Sam Kerr with Millie Bright currently recovering from an injured knee, looked to hit back swiftly. 
They did so with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd slotting into the bottom corner five minutes after Mead’s opener. 
However some observers will have questioned whether the goal should have stood with Kerr appearing to obscure goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger’s view. 
Arsenal continued to keep up the pressure in a
They went 2-1 up as Amanda Ilestedt headed home with Ann-Katrin Berger failing to claim the ball with her attempted catch from a 36th-minute corner kick.
Russo made it 3-1 slamming home after a powerful run in the 38th-
Hayes made a triple substitution with Fran Kirby among those entering the fray in the second half. 
Chelsea’s only goal of the game came via Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s first-half equaliser
But things didn’t any easier for the visitors.
Lauren James was subbed off shortly after treading on Lia Walti’s foot off the ball following an aerial challenge on Lotte Wubben-Moy
The challenge on Walti saw James get a yellow card with the Chelsea forward among six players cautioned during the game.
The hosts won a late pen when Russo was upended in the box by Berger with the keeper coming off her line to claim the ball. 
And Russo’s spot-kick and brace sealed an emphatic victory ahead of the derby clash with Tottenham this Saturday.
Emma Hayes felt Chelsea lacked control across the pitch during the match
Following the result, Hayes added: “Even when we did well to win the ball back, we gave it away again. 
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“It’s so difficult as a coach when you have no control in a certain way and I felt we lacked that across the pitch.
“I have a dressing room that will acknowledge that and own it.” More