Alessia Russo’s impact by Daisy
The Arsenal Women’s team walked away on Saturday afternoon with a heartbreaking loss to Paris FC, which saw Arsenal knocked out of qualifying for this year’s Champions League on penalties. Although we fell just short, Arsenal Women’s fans can look forward to Alessia Russo’s first season in red and white.
Missing the penalty to keep us in the tournament is the only thing I can fault after watching Russo’s performance on Saturday afternoon. Coming on at 60 minutes for Stina Blacksteinius, she completely changed the game, bringing energy and the desire we needed to get back into the game.
The moment she came on the whole game seemed to change, more options and opportunities started to open up and the game looked to be moving in the right direction. At the 80 minute mark, Jonas Eidevall’s decision to bring Russo on was justified when she scored her first goal in Arsenal colours. Pressing Paris’s back line and forcing a mistake from defender Eseosa Aigbogun and a fumble from the Goalkeeper, Russo put the ball in the back of the net, getting us right back into the game.
After losing focus in Extra time and some sloppy defending, Arsenal Women conceded another goal to make it 3-2 and Paris Fc were back in front. And again, in comes Russo, pressing hard and winning the ball back herself, she dribbled past three Paris Fc players, got herself in the perfect position and hit a rocket into the top left corner, again keeping us in the game.
She may have missed a penalty, but Arsenal Women’s fans can be confident that her price tag was well worth every penny. Russo looks to have slotted into Eidevall’s system flawlessly and after watching her play only two games in an Arsenal shirt, we can be excited about her future at the club.
Known for her poaching ability and pressing from the front, Russo brings a different quality to the team that I don’t think we had. Although our champions league hopes ended in heartbreak, we can walk away knowing that Russo should be making a huge impact on our forward line this season.
What’s your thoughts on Russo’s performance’s so far Gooners? Were you as impressed as I was?
Daisy Mae
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She played very well
Missing penalties happens and shouldn’t take away from her overall performance
She was good! Came on late & scored a potentially match saving goal. And another in extra time where she took on at least three defenders before letting one go from 25 yards. Too bad about the penalty though.
Great as expected. she will be better with Mead and Miedema back in the team as well as the swedish forward not sure how her name is spelt, with the afformentioned alongside many other of our talented stars we can take on any opponent provided Jonas can make use of them to our advantage otherwise we replace him with Wiegmann or Vilda, call me controversial.
Sending my twin 10 year old granddaughters to watch us vs Liverpool at the Emirates. Hopefully Alessia will be playing. I ❤️the Women’s game.
well said and enjoy the game
I think she is a remarkable acquisition and have no complaints about her workload both defensively and offensively. She presses, she passes, she runs her socks off and she scores great goals.
A while longer to settle in and know her team mates better and we will have that world class player we signed back, better than ever.
Professional players should not miss penalties and had she done nothing else then she would be a justifiable target for criticism. Frida missed one as well as did Kim in the last game so it happens to them all.
My new favorite!