Alessia Russo grew to become the highest-ever English goalscorer in Ladies’s Champions League historical past with a hat-trick towards Benfica as Arsenal received 3-0 of their league part match.
The Gunners No 9 matched Fran Kirby’s report (21) along with her first-half opener – a low, diagonal effort that beat goalkeeper Lena Pauels.
Her subsequent – a glancing header from Steph Catley’s nook – made her the outright report holder, earlier than including one other from the penalty spot after Caitlin Foord was fouled by Catarina Amado, taking her to 23 targets.
“She is the whole lot,” Arsenal boss Renee Slegers instructed Disney+ after the sport. “It is arduous to know the place to begin. She is such a humble, good human being, cares for the whole lot and everybody, does the whole lot to the fullest.
“She trains, does conferences, prepares, recovers. Every part is 100 pre cent and he or she brings a lot high quality. There’s a lot to say about Alessia and it is a privilege for me to work along with her.
“To have a participant that is world class in the way in which she performs, the way in which she assaults, the way in which she defends, does the whole lot for the group and being this particular person, it is superb.
“The entire group is superb, we now have so many good personalities within the group. We look after one another, and Alessia leads the way in which and he or she was captaining the group as we speak.”
Russo scored the hat-trick in entrance of England boss Sarina Wiegman – who would even have been impressed by Georgia Stanway. She was additionally named as captain for the second time in her profession.
Maybe the one blemish on Russo’s in any other case good night was being flagged offside within the build-up to Foord’s late fourth, which was dominated out.
Alessia Russo was captain for Arsenal on Wednesday night
The striker’s personal kind mirrors that of Arsenal, who’ve received back-to-back video games for the primary time this season, assuaging the strain after one other poor begin.
The outcome sends them second within the Champions League desk – with their subsequent European fixture an enormous recreation at Barcelona on November 12, who they beat to win the title in 2025.
Russo: The derby win would’ve meant nothing with no win right here
Arsenal hat-trick goalscorer Alessia Russo talking to Disney+:
“It feels very nice. I like taking part in within the Champions League, particularly with Arsenal with what we’re constructing.
“The win was actually essential after constructing some momentum towards Spurs. It is all the time loud right here at Borehamwood, we love taking part in right here and an essential three factors.
“We stated that the North London derby would not have meant something if we did not again it up tonight, so it was actually essential. Now hopefully we are able to construct going ahead.
“You may see what number of photographs on the right track we had. We have been actually constructing, specializing in individuals feeling assured on stepping up and capturing from outdoors the field.
“Their ‘keeper made some nice saves and on one other night time, it may need been much more so an amazing efficiency.”
Georgia Stanway additionally impressed as Arsenal beat Benfica
The important thing moments from Meadow Park
28: CHANCE! Lena Pauels stops Russo’s header from smuggling over the road.
30: ALMOST! Froya Dorsin seems to catch Misa Rodriguez off her line after accumulating a unfastened ball, nevertheless it curls over.
33: BIG SAVE! Pauels makes a leaping save to maintain out Smith’s sot.
29: GOAL! Russo’s low, diagonal effort places Arsenal forward.
66: GOAL! Russo glances residence a header to turn out to be the report goalscorer within the Ladies’s Champions League.
77: PENALTY ARSENAL! Amado is penalised for a foul on Foord within the field and Arsenal are awarded a penalty.
79: GOAL! Russo scores from the spot to finish her hat-trick.
90+2: NO GOAL! Foord scores a late fourth, however it’s dominated out with the offside flag up towards Russo.
Olivia Smith has a shot towards Benfica within the Ladies’s Champions League
Slegers reveals what was completely different towards Benfica
Arsenal boss Renee Slegers to Disney+: “It has been robust for us, have not acquired the outcomes and the performances till now.
“The north London derby was actually good for us and we stated we wished to again it up. I am actually happy with the gamers as a result of they did that as we speak. We created loads of possibilities, loads of photographs and Alessia’s hat-trick.
“There was one other method of making as we speak, our self-discipline within the press and getting the alternatives going ahead. That was an enormous one for us.”
