Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward made history with her club as they became the pioneering British team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named in the PFA and the European season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. In my opinion you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the competition but she was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

Russo's ability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Fellow player a teammate regularly played forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got too close, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.