Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was named the Football Writers' Association's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored 12 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:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from 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 total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they retain it frequently.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately 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 was fortunate of watching her a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.