- Published
Arsenal's victory over Tottenham on Saturday meant more than usual.
asserted
victory → publish → more
Upon hearing the final whistle, confirming their 2-1 success, Arsenal's players ran towards their supporters in the away end to celebrate passionately.
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players → hear → end
It was a visible show of emotion, a moment of relief and a sense things could finally be turning in their favour after a disappointing WSL start where they had beaten only Brighton.
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they → turn → Brighton
Could it now be the catalyst to repair a campaign that looked to have been derailed in just two months.
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that → repair → months
Arsenal started the day in the bottom half of the table, four points off fourth-placed Tottenham and 12 points behind leaders Manchester City.
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Arsenal → start → City
With their title ambitions in ruins, manager Renee Slegers was facing weekly questions about her future and defeat by Spurs could have been the last straw.
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defeat → face → Spurs
Confidence was at an all-time low and a high-stakes north London derby was not the ideal game to go into with no momentum.
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derby → go → momentum
The nerves were obvious as there were misplaced passes, poor clearances and sloppy errors in a disjointed first half.
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nerves → be → half
Tottenham had even taken the lead, although they held it for just four minutes as Georgia Stanway's powerful strike cancelled out a header from Cathinka Tandberg.
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strike → take → Tandberg
When asked what she said to the players at half-time, boss Slegers revealed: "I just gave constructive and tactical things that could help us to get the win, and remind us about the fight and intensity on the pitch.
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us → ask → pitch
The team were in a good place and were finding solutions themselves.
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team → find → solutions
Arsenal were much better in the second half, putting more pressure on Tottenham and getting the winning goal they needed.
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they → put → goal
Referee Phoebe Cross pointed to the spot when Lisa Baum's shot bounced off the post and Tandberg's clearance hit the outstretched hand of her Spurs team-mate Ella Morris nearby.
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clearance → point → Morris
Alessia Russo, who had failed to convert a big chance just moments earlier, made no mistake the second time around and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Lize Kop.
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who → fail → Kop
She roared in celebration and sprinted towards the away fans - an outburst of emotion that was replicated at full-time by England team-mate Leah Williamson.
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that → roar → Williamson
Slegers stood back as her players enjoyed the adulation from supporters.
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players → stand → supporters
They had finally delivered a win and the fans had something to sing about.
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fans → deliver → something
"I'm so happy we got it for them.
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we → get → them
We said we would play for the fans.
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we → say → fans
We played for them and connected with them," said Slegers.
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Slegers → play → them
"We sold out the away section, they came in the rain and sang and fought with us throughout the game.
"
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they → sell → game
"You could see how the team responded and how they were with the fans.
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they → see → fans
We want to capitalise on these emotions."
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We → want → emotions
'This will definitely energise us'
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This → energise → us
Former Arsenal defender Gilly Flaherty told BBC One the visitors were "causing their own problems" in an unconvincing first half and they took time to settle.
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they → tell → time
They showed nervousness and had to cling on at the end, relying on a stroke of luck and a controversial refereeing decision to get them over the line.
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They → show → line
But it was not undeserved and Slegers made the decision at full-time to show their feelings and celebrate with supporters in a different way, having abandoned their familiar post-match team huddle in the centre of the pitch.
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Slegers → make → pitch
We wanted to play for something bigger, not only for ourselves.
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We → want → ourselves
That is always a balance," she said.
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she → say → ?
One Gunners fan told BBC Sport at half-time: "It's 1-1 but Arsenal look very nervy in and out of possession.
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Arsenal → tell → possession
All feels so desperate and out of control."
Slegers showed understanding of their frustration as she added: "We normally do a huddle on the pitch but we decided to just go to the fans instead.
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we → feel → fans
"Actions speak louder than words.
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Actions → speak → words
There was not much more talking to do so we just wanted to celebrate with them.
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we → be → them
"We had a run of games where results haven't been good enough.
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results → have → games
This will definitely energise us.
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This → energise → us
"
Slegers is pleased Arsenal are set to embark on a busy period with their next game in the Women's Champions League on Wednesday against Benfica.
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Arsenal → set → Benfica
They have four home games in November and a trip to Barcelona - all good opportunities to build momentum.
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They → have → momentum
Their WSL title hopes may be gone, but a top-three finish is imperative to secure European football next season.
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finish → go → football
"We need to back this up in the next couple of games.
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We → need → games
There were some really good things for us on the pitch," said Slegers.
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Slegers → be → pitch
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
