Arsenal secured just their third league win of the season at the weekend as they claimed a 2-1 victory at Liverpool. Alessia Russo fired the Gunners in front early on. Beata Olsson restored parity shortly after.
Russo bagged again for the second time on the stroke of half time. Liverpool pressed for an equaliser, but none was forthcoming. It was another much-needed confidence boost that Arsenal needed following a rocky start to the season.
Having beaten Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening weekend of the campaign, Arsenal failed to win in five prior to a 2-1 North London Derby victory at rivals Tottenham Hotspur. They’re still yet to win a home game this season, a record they’ll hope to end when they face London City Lionesses in Matchweek 10.
And with Russo heading into the clash in such fine form, they have every chance of throwing a spanner in the works that is LCL’s BWSL title push.
Russo's improving final third showings
Russo, like Arsenal, started the season slowly. Indeed, she drew a blank in her opening four league outings. Her first goal of the campaign came in an eventual 4-2 defeat at defending champions Manchester City at the start of October.
However, in recent weeks, the 27-year-old has started to prove why she is arguably Arsenal’s most important forward. Of the last five league goals the Gunners have scored, Russo has been directly involved in all five, netting four and providing one assist. Renee Slegers has relied on her star forward to perform, and she’s duly delivered.
Again, she’s tapped into Russo’s versatility on the frontline. She’s not quite a creator, and she’s not quite an out-and-out striker. This nine-and-a-half style means she is able to flit between the two roles, with Slegers maximising her goalscoring, and creative, capabilities to great effect.
After all, across the last three games, Russo has managed 11 shots and created seven chances. Six of those chances came in the two matches where she started behind Olivia Smith, away at Spurs and at home against Aston Villa.
Smith was unable to get on the scoresheet in either game, but her movement freed up the space for Russo to work her magic in the final third. Against Liverpool, Russo started on the frontline, with Smith in the 10 role, but both still worked incredibly close to one another.
Smith’s ability to drag markers out of position through both her clever off the-ball movement and her explosive pace presents Russo with the opportunities to wreak havoc. The 22-year-old’s selflessness is proving the perfect way to bring out the best in Russo, and the latter’s resurgence has helped propel Arsenal back up the table.
Hard work off the ball key
Crucially, too, is that Russo is doing everything she can out of possession to force turnovers in dangerous positions.
Despite a 61.4% possession haul, the second most in the 2026/27 BWSL campaign, Arsenal still rank fourth for possession won in the attacking third (74). They are dominating the ball, but acting quickly to disrupt the rhythm of opposition defences, thus increasing the likelihood of forcing the issue in a key area.
And Russo herself is doing so to a high standard. Only Caitlin Foord (12) ranks higher than the England star (11) for possession won in the final third of all Arsenal players. She’s the club’s leading light in more ways than one.
The concern for Arsenal will be what happens if Russo is having an off day. She’s been directly involved in six of their 10 BWSL goals (60%), scoring five times. A dip performance levels could prove costly for Arsenal, who are slowly improving upon a disappointing opening few weeks to the season.
A premium Fantasy option?
Her importance to Arsenal explains why Russo is the second most expensive player on Fantasy. Only City’s Bunny Shaw (£12.5m) has a higher price tag than the Gunners forward (£11.5m). That hasn’t put players off selecting Russo, who features in 49% of teams, the fifth highest.
This comes despite Russo collecting just 55 points in Fantasy this season, which is lower than the likes of Shaw (90), Lauren Hemp (83) and Oceane Hutre (81). Of those 55 points, though, 33 have come across her last three outings. She’s shining, and it’s well worth seeking to capitalise upon both hers, and Arsenal’s, recent improvements.
The welcome of LCL aside, Arsenal have a favourable run of games on the horizon, presenting users with a great opportunity to end Leg 2 on a high and make a sprint start to Leg 3 after the upcoming international break. And on current form, Russo could well be the best premium pick as Arsenal look to finally put a first home win on the board.
