Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross have ended an exhausting but highly successful, jet-setting week by helping Arsenal to a key Women's Super League win just days after steering the Matildas to the Olympics.
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The trio all started Wednesday's international in Melbourne as Australia completed their four-day, two-leg Olympic qualifying bid with a 10-0 win over Uzbekistan, which came straight off the back of their 3-0 victory in Tashkent.
But after the players flew back to England, Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall had no hesitation in plunging Australia's skipper Catley and striker Foord into his starting lineup for Sunday's local derby against Tottenham that attracted 60,050 to the Emirates Stadium.
That figure fell just short of the record WSL attendance of 60,160 who watched Arsenal's win over Manchester United in February.
After all those international goals, just one strike was enough for the Gunners to beat their north London rivals 1-0 and keep their title challenge bubbling, three points off the lead.
Cooney-Cross was brought off the bench for the last quarter of an hour, playing a combative part in a match the home side largely dominated but only sealed through Alessia Russo's goal in the 49th minute.
Catley and Foord were influential throughout, linking up down Arsenal's left flank with their almost telepathic understanding.
But the final product was lacking when Foord proved a bit too elaborate in the box just before halftime after being found with a superb through ball from her international teammate.
Foord's work-rate was typically non-stop despite her exhausting week, before she was finally given a rest and substituted in the 84th minute.
Matildas keeper Mackenzie Arnold had a dramatic afternoon in West Ham's 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Early on, a risky pass to her Matildas teammate Katrina Gorry ended with the ball being pick-pocketed and Rachel Williams firing home for the visitors.
Arnold made amends with a superb stop from Williams before halftime and the Hammers equalised five minutes from the end through a magnificent Viviane Asseyi finish.
Right at the death, Arnold's drop-kick struck Williams, with the ball falling to the Manchester United striker, who missed what was effectively an open goal.
Chelsea went back to the top of the table, on goal difference ahead of Manchester City, with a 4-0 victory at Leicester featuring a first WSL goal for January signing Maya Ramirez.
Australian Associated Press
