After winning the Champions League last season, Alessia Russo believes that Arsenal’s success will only fuel the club to win more trophies this year.
Russo won the Champions League and then Euro 2025 in what has been a whirlwind summer for the striker.
Will European success fuel Arsenal?
Arsenal are the only English club to have won the women’s Champions League and with two titles they are by far the most dominant force in the competition from the WSL.
In England however, the Gunners have had almost no luck in stopping Chelsea winning the domestic league almost every year.
Chelsea have won six WSL titles in a row dating back to the 2019/20 campaign. Arsenal were the last club other than Chelsea to win the league but that was over six years ago.
One of Arsenal’s biggest heroes from last season, Alessia Russo, still has faith in the Gunners though.
Russo extended her deal with Arsenal at the beginning of September to keep the Lioness in North London on a long-term basis.
Where she belongs 💫
Alessia Russo has signed a new long-term deal with The Arsenal ❤️ pic.twitter.com/r3oxUk74Ld
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 5, 2025
The Ballon d’Or contender has high hopes in her team after winning the Champions League at the end of last season.
“I think that when you win a trophy, it really lights the fire to want to win more. Any player will tell you there’s no better feeling than winning a tournament at a club, because you know the journey that it’s taken to get there.” Russo said.
“It drives us on to want to win more, but also shows us all that we’ve got what it takes. We’ve done what it takes at the highest level, so now we need to be consistent. We’re all so excited for this season.”
The Lioness and Arsenal have already kicked off their season with an encouraging win. Renee Slegers’ team thrashed newly-promoted London City Lionesses 4-1 in their opener.
Although she wasn’t on the scoresheet, Russo was praised by Slegers for Arsenal’s win and her first assist this season.
Alessia Russo: Ballon d’Or contender
Following what has been arguably the best summer of Russo’s life, the 26-year-old is now one of the favourites with UK betting sites to win the Ballon d’Or.
“The Ballon d’Or ceremony will be extra special because so many of us at Arsenal have been recognised.” Russo continued. “It’s a moment you can never take for granted and to be considered alongside these players is a real honour.
“It’s great when you feel your hard work paying off, but I’ve never really been able to stand still. I’m my own biggest critic and I’m never satisfied. I just want to keep pushing on for the team and for myself and I feel like I’m in exactly the right place to do that. I feel so grateful for last season but I’m not stopping now.”
Arsenal face West Ham in their second WSL game this season on Friday night.
The Gunners will have to be near-perfect this season to stop a Chelsea side unbeaten in 26 league games. After a busy summer window, Russo and co. are definitely a threat to the champions.
