Soccer
Alessia Russo does not mind what position she plays for Arsenal as long as chances continue to fall her way, having decided Saturday’s North London derby with a ruthless first-half hat-trick.
Arsenal thumped rivals Tottenham 5-2 at the Emirates Stadium to climb to second in the Women’s Super League and put themselves in the driving seat for Champions League qualification.
Russo was at the heart of everything positive about the Gunners’ play, securing the match ball by the 27th minute.
She found the bottom-right corner with a diving header in the fifth minute, rounded Lize Kop before finishing from a tight angle two minutes later, then punished an error from the Spurs goalkeeper for her third goal.
Russo has 13 goal involvements in the WSL this season (nine goals, four assists), with only Manchester City duo Khadija Shaw (22) and Vivianne Miedema (15) boasting more.
The England international led the line on Saturday, but that has not always been the case this campaign as she has played 31% of her WSL minutes in a number 10 role.
Speaking to Sky Sports after Arsenal’s big win, Russo – who is hoping to reach double figures in goals for a fourth straight WSL campaign – insisted she was happy to play either position.
“Now I understand the details of the 10 a bit more, I find it a bit easier. Knowing what I need to do out of possession is a big one, it is a big role in the team,” she said.
“On the ball, I like both because they offer different parts of my game. I’ll play anywhere – I don’t care!
“I love to score goals as much as I can and to do it here at the Emirates in a North London derby is really nice. It’s a good three points moving on to the rest of the season.”
Arsenal boss Renee Slegers also heaped praise upon Russo, saying the 27-year-old has emerged as a key voice in the Gunners’ changing room.
“In training, she is communicating more and instructing more, driving the team by being more vocal. You can see that she’s stepping up,” Slegers said.
“She is also part of the leadership group now. She is always herself, wanting to bring her best version, and she is very humble. She’s developing that, and we love to see it.”
Arsenal face Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday, boasting a 3-1 advantage from the home leg.
They then take on Brighton in the last eight of the Women’s FA Cup, while they are the only team that can ensure a nervy end to the campaign for runaway WSL leaders Man City, given they could move within five points of the summit if they win their two games in hand.
Read MoreSoccerNews