Arsenal striker Alessia Russo spoke to the media ahead of the Gunners’ Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) trip to Chelsea this weekend.
Russo has been in fine form since Renée Slegers took charge, scoring in her last six WSL appearances. On what is keeping her fit and firing whilst playing so many minutes, the attacker explained, “I think there’s so much that comes into it, whether it be confidence or you’re not playing consistently, or different things like that. And I think form is a is a thing, and it’s a feeling that you kind of have to find out what makes you tick.”
“But I also think for me, it just comes down to training. We get to spend so much time on the training pitch, so I’m just trying to be better every day, do what I can on the pitch, and hopefully that it comes to life on it.”
‘If there’s ever a doubt, I always believe you can work hard’
Her contributions go beyond just goals, however. Russo is also renowned for her resilience on the field, as she bounces back from heavy challenges and always looks to be in pursuit of chances to create.
The Halfway Lineasked the forward how important these valuable characteristics are to her identity as a player, and whether the club is helping them to flourish.
“It’s massive to me as a player, but also the philosophy of the club is that we work so hard that nothing can phase us, and we’re really gritty. I think we are as a team, but that’s always been me. I kind of just take things in my stride.
“Ultimately, whether you’re scoring or not, you can control how hard you’re working and what you’re doing off the ball, and what you’re doing to get in good positions, and I think that that’s something that can keep you very balanced throughout a game and throughout the season, when you know that you’re working hard and you’re running. If ever there’s a doubt, I always believe you can work hard.”
‘I don’t call it work, I call it football’says Russo
Young Arsenal prospects Laila Harbert, Freya Godfrey, and Maddie Earl have all joined Barclays Women’s Championship clubs on loan for the remainder of the season. The Halfway Line asked Russo how this is important for their development.
Russo said: “It’s really good. I have a good relationship with all the young girls here, and they’re all really lovely girls, and want to go on and achieve massive things. And I think they all will, but I think it’s important that they play.”
“I know when I was a kid and I was deciding what to do playing was the most important thing to me, because I think you just learn so much about the game. And yeah, I know that they’ll do great and flourish at their clubs for now, but hopefully come back to Arsenal, which I’m sure they all will.”
The striker also touched further on her own journey to becoming one of England’s most prolific strikers, highlighting the importance of mentality to her recent progress.
“I do always say that I play my best football and I’m enjoying myself and I’m happy, and I really do believe that. And even when I was a kid, like my happiest memories are when I’m playing well, but I’ve also loved the game and I love just playing football. And I really do feel like that at the moment.
“I feel excited and happy to come into work every day. I mean, I’ve always loved coming into training. I don’t call it work. I call it football, and unfortunate enough that it is work. I do really believe that, yeah, you play your best when you’re feeling good.”
Thriving on ‘competing against the best players’
Reflecting on her time in North London thus far, Russo affirmed “I’m loving it, and I’m really enjoying learning about me and about my game. I think I’ve learned a lot as a nine just different style, different players, and just how I can adapt to their strengths and vice versa.
“I think I’ve still got a lot more to give, and I hope that we can keep progressing as a team. And I’m just loving playing Champions League football, competing against the top teams, competing against the best players in training, week in, week out.”
Asserting her already crystal clear drive to improve, Russo continued: “The staff will tell you that I’m a bit of a pain when it comes to finishing, because I’m always trying to make us do more. But Renée has brought in this new little finishing competition that we do every now and again that is a nice bit of fun at the end of training that we all enjoy.”
Russo will be eager to continue her goalscoring streak against London rivals Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge in a huge top-of-the-table clash.
Beth McCowen Editor and Author for The Halfway Line View all posts