Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

The talented forward made history with her club as they became the pioneering English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the European Championship final and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

The forward was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 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 Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

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

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

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

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, 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 team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing 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 assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. I think that you have to be content winning games like that 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. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would agree and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo 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 all her peers.

Her capability 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 retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender 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, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, Russo is regularly able to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She can turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.