Ellen White credits Arsenal for elevating ‘special’ Alessia Russo’s game ahead of Euro 2025 | OneFootball

Ellen White has praised Alessia Russo (pictured) and credited Arsenal for improving her levels. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Former England star Ellen White has praised Alessia Russo for her meteoric rise and credited Arsenal for elevating her game.

Russo is set to lead the line when the Lionesses look to defend their European Championship crown at Euro 2025 this summer.

The 26-year-old has scored 22 goals in 50 appearances for England and was part of their Euro 2022 winning squad.

She is also coming off success with Arsenal, after the Gunners beat Barcelona to win the Champions League last month.

Former England and Arsenal forward White has lauded Russo’s transformation into one of the best forwards in European football.

Ellen White on rise of Alessia Russo

Ellen White, England Women’s record goalscorer, has revealed that she knew Alessia Russo was going to be special when she came into the England squad, and was the ‘next in line’ to replace her.

The retired forward also credited Arsenal for improving Russo’s game since she joined the club.

Russo has scored 36 goals in 72 games for Arsenal since joining from Manchester United in the summer of 2023.

White said: “Going to Arsenal has been great for her. Under Renee Slegers, her game has been elevated.

“She’s had more opportunities to score, and working closer with Kelly Smith on the training pitch, you can see her movement. She’s more in the box, in scoring positions. She looks happy and confident, too.”

Russo made her senior England debut in a 1-0 defeat against Spain in March 2020. However, it wasn’t until the summer of 2022 when she started regularly playing and scoring for the Lionesses.

White said: “It maybe took a year or two and she was still young, she needed the experience and game time but she’s cemented her spot now and has been scoring some great goals.

“I’m really excited to see what happens this summer, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on her. If she doesn’t score, that isn’t a bad thing.”

Russo included in England’s 23-player Euro 2025 squad

Arsenal forward Alessia Russo was included in Sarina Wiegman’s 23-player England squad for Euro 2025 this summer.

The tournament begins next month, with England kicking off their campaign against France on July 5th.

Speaking in February, Russo told Sky Sports that the Lionesses are hungry for more success after their triumph in 2022.

She said: “The Euros is huge. We know as players, we know how it felt to win it and we want to go there and defend our title.

“We have so many quality players and a quality backroom staff as well. It will be massive and we’re really looking forward to it.”