Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the first 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 continental title.

She scored in the European Championship final and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for the club and set up for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got too close, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is regularly able to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.