Exclusive: Arsenal and England star Alessia Russo talks to OneFootball | OneFootball

Alessia Russo is eyeing silverware with Arsenal this season as the Gunners gear up for their FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool this weekend.

The striker has established herself as Sarina Wiegman's first choice up front for England and has netted 13 goals at club level this season, but the focus is on silverware as she enters the business end of the campaign.

"It's massive when you sign for a club like Arsenal," Russo told OneFootball as she surprised young players at a Harpenden FC training session to mark the launch of the Panini Barclays Women’s Super League Adrenalyn XL Trading Card collection, which features the England star as one of the first ever WSL Golden Ballers.

📸 - Panini

"It's a club that has so much history and is all about winning, I want to be a part of that.

"We want to keep winning and putting the club in the position to challenge in all competitions. There's no better feeling as a player than winning a big trophy. I've not won a whole lot in my career yet, but hopefully we'll go on to win lots more. But the moments as a team celebrating a victory are really, really special."

Russo won Euro 2022 with England and the League Cup with Arsenal last season whilst the Gunners are in the quarter-finals of not only the FA Cup but also the Champions League over the coming weeks.

Silverware looked like a long shot as the team made a slow start to the season but things have picked up under interim-turned-permanent head coach Renee Slegers, who has helped bring the best out of the Arsenal striker.

"I've been loving playing under her," Russo said.

"Renee has been great ever since she stepped in. The transition to her joining was smooth, and she sets the standard really high for us as players.You can see that with our performances and how we're winning as well. We're winning games in different types of ways which is important as a team, especially at this stage of the season. Personally, I’m really enjoying my time under her and feel we're really growing as a team."

Russo enjoyed a run of seven goals in six WSL games between November and January, becoming the fourth Arsenal player to score in six consecutive WSL matches, but insisted there is still plenty to work on as a player and suggested it's actually bringing others into play and being creative that comes a bit more naturally to her.

"I'm still developing my game in loads of different ways. There’s lots for me to work but that's what kind of inspires me to be a better player," the 26-year-old explained.

"I've always liked the ball at my feet. Growing up, I used to play in different positions, whether that was (on the) wing or central midfield. I loved creating play with the ball at my feet, so I think that part of my game comes naturally. I'm learning lots as a striker each day and there's parts of your game that are constantly evolving."

That development is driven by playing against different teams and across different competitions, all bringing their own challenges.

📸 - Panini

"I really enjoy coming up against different teams and different styles, whether that be in the Women’s Champions League, and internationally as well," Russo said.

"You get to meet lots of different styles whether that’s the way like the Spanish play a certain type of way, or the USA.

"To meet these kinds of different teams in respective games and competitions is really cool and a massive test for us to face as a team for England or Arsenal. These are the games that you want to be playing in. They're the teams you want to be testing yourself against."

Now featured by Panini as a Golden Baller, Russo admitted that growing up she didn't even consider that she would one day feature when she used to collect and trade stickers and cards as a kid herself.

📸 - Panini

"I used to collect Panini cards and stickers and trade them in the playground when I was younger. It’s nice that that women's football is involved in this now. I'm so grateful to be a part of it all.

"To be in the collection as a Golden Baller, it's not something I envisaged. But it's great, and I'm so grateful. It’s great to think that there will be little kids trading WSL stickers now.

“I remember trading male cards when I was a kid, and to have WSL cards and female cards. It's incredible. It's more visibility for the game and shows that football is a place for everyone.

"I know when I was younger, I used to love getting new sticker books and collecting them. To have the women’s collection our game now is great. Hopefully it can go on to inspire more girls in future generations."

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