Tottenham Women can build on recent success as Olga Ahtinen and Eveliina Summanen set to provide January boost
Tottenham Women are set to be boosted by the return of two of their key midfielders when the Women’s Super League gets back underway in January.
It seems that everything is currently looking up for Robert Vilahamn and his Tottenham players.
Following a miserable run of results that saw them go five WSL matches without a win, the club recorded arguably their greatest-ever victory when they claimed a first north London derby success, beating Arsenal Women 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 16 December, with the goal coming via top scorer Martha Thomas.
Their victory over the Gunners was the perfect ending to 2023, with the WSL now in a mid-season break.
Tottenham won’t play again until 14 January, when they take on Sheffield United Women in the fourth round of the FA Women’s Cup, before returning to league action with another London derby, this time away at West Ham Women on 21 January.
They will head into this clash full of confidence and look as if they will be boosted by the return of midfielders Olga Ahtinen and Eveliina Summanen.
The pair have both been out injured since November, and Tottenham have now provided an update on both players’ fitness via their official website (21 December), revealing that the duo “are targeting a return to action in time for the return of the Women’s Super League in January.”
This will be music to Vilahamn’s ears after the impressive start both players made to their seasons.
Ahtinen, who was named vice-captain ahead of the 2023/24 campaign getting underway, and Summanen both started the first six WSL matches of the season alongside each other in the middle of the park.
It was a positive start to the season for Spurs, who won three of their first four WSL matches, wins in which both Ahtinen and Summanen were crucial, particularly against Bristol City.
Vilahamn earned his first points as a manager in the WSL with a 3-1 home win against the Robins on 8 October. Both Ahtinen and Summanen got their names on the scoresheet, with the latter also getting an assist, setting up the former for the opener.
Ahtinen completed 82 per cent of her passes with one of those being key and was successful with her one dribble attempt, while Summanen completed 87 per cent of her passes with one of those being key, provided four accurate long balls forward, and won two ground duels as well as four in the air (Sofascore).
It is no coincidence that Spurs’ form began to dip while both players were out of action, and Vilahamn will be delighted by the timely return of two key players when the confidence of the squad is already sky-high.
In other Tottenham news, one pundit has raved about Ange Postecoglou after what he did behind the scenes with one troubled Spurs star.