Spurs Women give their all, but it's a tough night at the Emirates

Spurs Women gave everything - as always - but couldn't stop Arsenal taking the Women's Super League title race to the final weekend of the season in a 3-0 loss at the Emirates on Wednesday evening.

Unbeaten at home all season, Arsenal took an early lead through Beth Mead and secured the points via a double from Caitlin Foord in the second half. That stretched the Gunners' record to just three home defeats in 48 matches over the last five WSL seasons - a measure of the task at hand as we stepped out at the Emirates.

We started well though - despite Mead's opener - and our best chances all came inside the first 10 minutes - Kyah Simon somehow denied by two goalline clearances in a scramble from Molly Bartrip's corner the closest we came on seven minutes until Angela Addison struck the post from the penalty spot in the seventh minute of added time.

The focus now turns quickly to the finale of a memorable 2021/22 campaign and, having already secured a best-ever finish in the WSL, we'll look to go out in style by clinching fifth place with a positive result against Leicester City on the main stage, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, on Sunday (12noon).

Rehanne Skinner made four changes to the team that started Sunday's draw at Everton. Tinja-Rikka Korpela was back in goal for Becky Spencer with Josie Green, Kyah Simon and Jess Naz replacing Asmita Ale, Eveliina Summanen and Jiali Tang.

Simon and Rachel Williams has early chances before Arsenal took the lead on four minutes. Mead travelled unchallenged into the penalty box, shifted left and drove home from 14 yards.

Undetered, our best chances followed. Rosella Ayane's dangerous cross from the right was cut out and from the corner, Manuela Zinsberger missed Molly Bartrip's delivery and Simon went for goal twice, both efforts blocked on the line, the ball eventually flashing wide.

Arsenal dominated the rest of the half, as we defended for our lives. Ashleigh Neville and Shelina Zadorsky made fine blocks and Korpela produced a hat-trick of saves to deny Foord, including a brave dive at the forward's feet and a sharp save to her right. Vivianne Miedema also dragged wide from the edge of the box.

The home side continued to push us back in the second half, but we remained organised and refused to budge. Miedema fired straight at Korpela, Mead's cross fizzed across the six-yard line and Miedema whistled a shot over from distance. It wasn't until the 71st minute that our resistance was broken again as Miedema took a short corner, got to the left byline and drilled in a cross turned home by Foord at the far post.

Foord curled home from the edge of the box for 3-0 on 82 minutes and we missed the chance of a consolation goal in the final minute of added time when Angela Addison was brought down in the box by Lotte Wubben-Moy, picked herself up to take the spot-kick, only to strike the foot of the post.

Match data

Goals: Arsenal - Mead 4, Foord 71, 82.

Yellow cards: Arsenal - McCabe 74; Spurs - Simon 24, Summanen 58, Green 73, Clemaron 74.

Referee: Louise Sanders.

Venue: Emirates Stadium.

Weather: Raining, grey skies, 13 degrees at kick-off.