Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: The Gunners and England

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they became the pioneering British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

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

She scored 12 league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I'm confident my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight 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.

"In my view 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.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"As players in the high press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish 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 didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

The striker notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League last season to share the scoring award.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

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

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

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, nobody was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, she is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.