A Newfound Appreciation for the Arsenal Way
Alessia Russo was beaming with joy as she celebrated Arsenal's Premier League and Champions Cup triumphs with a 9km parade through the streets of north London. The 27-year-old forward, who has become an honorary Gooner, says she's never felt more connected to the club. "I came to Arsenal and I wasn't an Arsenal fan, but since I've joined the club and seen the people around the place, it's impossible to not become a part of Arsenal and to feel like I support Arsenal," she explains.
Russo's passion for the club is evident, and she's quick to point out the impact that the fans have had on her. "The fans, the atmosphere, the celebrating the men winning the Prem, something that they'd worked so hard for so many years, I was just soaking it in, having fun and enjoying myself," she says. "It was just a really really special day."
Empowering Young Girls Through Football
Russo's love for Arsenal is matched only by her passion for empowering young girls through football. She launched her own foundation earlier this year to help girls teams in need of sponsorship, and she's also partnered with Starling Bank's Kick On initiative to support local businesses in their efforts to sponsor grassroots female football clubs.
The statistics are stark, with nearly every grassroots female football club (97%) saying they need more funds, and 76% of female players saying they'll have to drop out of their team or the sport altogether if more funding isn't secured in the next five years. Russo is determined to make a difference, and she believes that local businesses can play a crucial role in supporting young girls in football.
A Standout Season and a Hungry Squad
Russo had a standout year in 2025-26, scoring key goals for Arsenal and England, and many believe her game moved up a level for club and country. She's now back at Arsenal for pre-season training, and she's eager to continue pushing on with the Gunners. "We've learned a lot as a team over the last couple of years at Arsenal, but are really hungry for the new season," she says. "We've made it quite clear that we want to do everything that we can to be the team most capable of winning the WSL and Renée [Slegers] has set the standard really high this pre-season."
A Rare Summer Off and a Newfound Appreciation for Rest
Russo has enjoyed a rare summer off, where she's had the chance to focus on her broader issues and get in some much-needed rest. "It was really important that I did have some proper downtime," she says. "Over the last few years, the minutes and tournaments have really increased, so I needed to look after my body and get myself in a good place mentally."
A New Season and a New Challenge
As Russo prepares for the new season with Arsenal, she's eager to continue pushing on and winning trophies. "I'm obviously pleased with my season for Arsenal and England from a personal point of view but, ultimately, I'll always judge it on the trophies that we win," she says. With a hungry squad and a new challenge ahead, Russo is ready to take on the new season with Arsenal.