Key Points
- North London Derby Debut: Summer signing Alice Sombath is preparing to make her first appearance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Tottenham Hotspur Women prepare to host Arsenal Women in the Women’s Super League (WSL).
- Return to N17: Tottenham Hotspur Women return to their main home ground in N17 for the first time in the current campaign, with kick-off scheduled for 12:45 pm UK time this Saturday.
- Managerial Recognition: Head Coach Martin Ho was named the WSL Manager of the Month for September 2026 after leading Spurs through an unbeaten opening month, scoring 15 goals and collecting 10 points in four matches.
- Form & Table Position: Spurs currently occupy fourth place in the WSL standings, positioned five points adrift of the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification spots following back-to-back league defeats earlier this month.
- Ticket Availability: Tickets remain available for supporters wishing to attend the fixture at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) October 22, 2026 — French defender Alice Sombath has expressed growing anticipation ahead of stepping out at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time in her career this weekend. The 23-year-old summer arrival from Olympique Lyonnais is set to feature in her first north London derby on home turf as Tottenham Hotspur Women prepare to take on rivals Arsenal Women in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
The fixture marks the club’s official return to the venue in N17 for the first time during the current campaign. As confirmed by the official Tottenham Hotspur media team, kick-off is scheduled for 12:45 pm UK time on Saturday, with match tickets remaining available for purchase.
As reported by Tottenham Hotspur’s official club media outlet, Sombath revealed her eagerness to experience the atmosphere at the venue, stating:
“I’m really excited to see the stadium and to play in my first north London derby at home.”
Her enthusiasm comes as Spurs seek to leverage home support in one of the most high-profile fixtures on the English women’s football calendar.
How has Tottenham Hotspur Women’s season progressed so far?
As reported by the official website of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, Spurs enjoyed an exceptional opening month to the season under head coach Martin Ho. The manager was officially named the Barclays WSL Manager of the Month for September 2026 after guiding the squad through an unbeaten four-match stretch. During that period, Spurs collected 10 points out of a possible 12 and scored 15 goals, beginning with a 3-1 victory over West Ham United, followed by a 1-1 draw against Liverpool, a 7-0 victory away at Crystal Palace, and a 4-0 home win over Aston Villa.
However, as noted by match reporting from BBC Sport, the team’s momentum stalled entering October. Spurs suffered back-to-back defeats in the competition, including a 6-1 loss against London City Lionesses and a 6-2 setback against reigning champions Chelsea.
Despite these recent performance dips, Tottenham Hotspur remain fourth in the WSL table. They currently sit five points behind the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification places, keeping the stakes high for Saturday’s showdown against Arsenal.
Background of the particular development
Alice Sombath joined Tottenham Hotspur in July 2026 for an undisclosed fee, ending a six-year tenure with French powerhouse Olympique Lyonnais. During her time in France, Sombath established herself as a versatile defensive talent, contributing to multiple Première Ligue titles and featuring in Lyon’s 2021–22 UEFA Women’s Champions League winning campaign. Her international credentials include representing France across various youth levels before making her senior international debut for France in late 2024.
Tottenham Hotspur Women have progressively increased their usage of the 62,850-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for high-profile WSL fixtures, transitioning from their regular home ground at Brisbane Road in Leyton. The fixture against Arsenal represents a continuation of the club’s commercial and sporting strategy to grow the women’s game by hosting major derbies in premier venues. Martin Ho, who took charge of Spurs in November 2023, previously earned his first WSL Manager of the Month award in February 2024 before securing his second accolade in September 2026.
Prediction: How will this development affect Tottenham Hotspur and their supporters?
The upcoming fixture at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium holds significant implications for both Tottenham Hotspur Women’s season trajectory and their broader fan base.
From a sporting perspective, integrating high-profile summer signings such as Sombath into major derby environments is critical for building tactical resilience. A positive result against Arsenal would stop the recent two-game losing streak, restore squad confidence, and close the five-point gap to the Champions League spots. Conversely, a defeat could see Spurs slip further away from the top three, increasing the pressure on Martin Ho’s side during the middle portion of the campaign.
For the supporters and the wider North London community, hosting the derby at N17 enhances accessibility and visibility for women’s football. A strong attendance figure would reinforce the commercial viability of staging regular WSL matches at main club stadiums. Furthermore, providing defensive additions like Sombath with exposure to large-scale derby crowds accelerates their adaptation to English football, directly influencing the long-term competitiveness of the squad.
