Lessi is more?

On Russo’s strong finish to the season

Alessia Russo played more minutes than any other Arsenal player in the WSL this season and she was one of four players (Catley, Foord and Pelova) to take part in every league game. This season, she finished with 12 league goals and four assists, which is an improvement on the 10 league goals and one assist she produced for Manchester United last season.

I have spoken to Jonas Eidevall several times this season about what I have always viewed as a slight repurposing of Russo from a link player to a more consistent penalty box threat. I think this period of adaption is one of the factors behind Arsenal’s struggle with deep defensive blocks this season, which has become less of an issue in the spring.

Back in February, in the wake of a frustrating defeat to West Ham (in which Russo scored from a setpiece), I asked Eidevall whether he wanted Russo to drop deep less often and stay in the penalty area for longer periods and he was candid with his answer.

‘Most football players are very ambitious and want to help the team. What people generally do to help the team is to show for the ball but what you need in football, especially in the 9 position, is to create space for yourself and the team. One of the best things to do to create space is to go away from where the ball is because it is really hard for the defender to see you and the ball at the same time and those are your two biggest cues as a defender.’

Half of Russo’s goal tally for the season came in the final six games, which suggest she is starting to evolve into the goal threat that Eidevall always believed she could be. I asked him about Russo’s run of goal scoring form following the 5-0 win over Brighton on Saturday, in which Russo bagged a first-half brace.

‘I know we had the conversation two or three months ago in a press conference and we talked about how we worked hard with Lessi on her positioning and staying high and central to get more scoring opportunities in what we call the golden zone and she has managed that really well since the London City Lionesses game onwards and she has had a very good goal scoring record from that game.’

In the wake of the 3-0 victory over Leicester in April, Eidevall was asked by The Athletic’s Charlotte Harpur whether he wanted Russo to be ‘more selfish.’ His answer was revealing. ‘I don’t see scoring goals as selfish. As a 9 that is your main job for the team.’ Understandably, there has been a lot of focus on the decision not to offer the WSL’s record goal scorer Vivianne Miedema a new contract over the last week or so.

That has somewhat overshadowed Russo’s strong finish to the season. With Stina Blackstenius’ new contract set to be announced shortly, Arsenal have stacked their attacking chips when it comes to their strikers. How the relationship between the 9 and the 10 works is going to be a source of intrigue for next season. Russo has played as a 10 behind Stina often this season and has also played ahead of Little and Maanum.

It will be interesting to see whether this rotation continues next season or whether Eidevall wants some more established partnerships. When I asked Eidevall about the qualities he wants to bring into the squad for next season, he said, ‘What has been apparent this season is that when opponents give us space, then we are very good at exploiting space.

‘But when the space isn’t there and we need to create it, that is where, at times, we have been lacking. From a pace perspective and having players who can exploit space, we are good. We need….to open games up where there is less space.’ The interest in Barcelona’s Mariona Caldentey makes a lot of sense in this context.

I have a suspicion that Caldentey, who can play on the left wing, is really being prioritised for the position behind the striker to add that missing craft, especially when it comes to passes into the penalty area. I was told that Arsenal want a direct left-winger to support and compete with Caitlin Foord over the summer and I suspect that priority remains.

Many Arsenal fans are perplexed by the decision to let Miedema go given Arsenal scored 18 goals fewer than Chelsea this season and eight fewer than Manchester City. It is clearly the most identifiable area of improvement next season. Arsenal bought Russo with a view to building on her strengths and making her a more prolific striker.

The signs have been very encouraging in recent weeks but Arsenal’s attack is going to need a sprinkle of quality around her and some attacking partnerships are going to have to settle and foment a little. At times this season, it has felt mix and match or trial and error. But if Russo can continue to evolve into the Bunny Shaw or Sam Kerr level goal scorer in the Arsenal front line, that will help things along.