Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Striker Teams: The Gunners 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 the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the defence of their European Championship title.

She scored in the European Championship final and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted twelve league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

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

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. 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. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

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

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it frequently.

"We as athletes in the high press and defensively, 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. In my opinion you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a few times with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer 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 didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a constant threat in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

Her capability to contribute to the team beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a marker got too close, she used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in tough situations, Russo is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.