Tottenham and Arsenal meet with Champions League hopes at stake

Tottenham and Arsenal meet in Saturday’s north London derby with both sides needing a win to keep their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Women’s Champions League alive. The Women’s Super League match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium kicks off at 12:45 BST and will be shown live on BBC One.

Arsenal have scored only five goals in six league games, the joint-second-lowest total in the division, and are eighth in the table. They have not won since the opening day and sit nine points off the Champions League places after defeats by Chelsea and Manchester City.

Their poor return in front of goal contrasts with their chance creation: Arsenal have had 93 chances and 283 touches in opposition penalty areas, both among the league’s highest totals. But they have converted just 5.9% of their shots, the division’s lowest rate. England’s record goalscorer Ellen White told the BBC the team looked “a little lost, a bit desperate” and said a draw would not be enough.

Tottenham started strongly, taking 10 points from their first four games while conceding twice. Heavy defeats followed, however: 6-1 against London City Lionesses and 6-2 against Chelsea. Manager Martin Ho has said his side are not yet at the level of the teams challenging at the top.

The derby offers Spurs a chance to build on their record of one win in 13 WSL meetings with Arsenal. Tottenham did hold Arsenal to a goalless draw at home last season. The sides have also shown contrasting attacking form this campaign: Spurs’ Victoria Pelova, who joined from Arsenal in the summer, has scored five league goals, as many as Arsenal’s entire team. “We have to beat them,” she told BBC Sport.

Manchester City, Chelsea and London City have opened a gap over the rest of the league, making Saturday’s result important for both rivals as they try to stay in contention.