Alessia Russo exclusive: Winning the Champions League alongside Arsenal 'sisters' would mean so much | OneFootball

Russo says Gunners are on a ‘mission’ to upset the odds against ‘probably the best team in the world’ Barcelona

Personal accolades are one thing, but Russo’s biggest desire is to win trophies and Saturday provides her with the perfect opportunity to do so.

Russo has played a key role for Arsenal on their run to the Women’s Champions League final

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal take on Barcelona in the final of the Women’s Champions League and Renee Slegers’ side are out to make history.

Only once before have the Gunners won the competition and that was all the way back in 2007, when Russo was just eight years old.

“I don’t think anything tops winning a trophy as a team,” says Russo. “When you go through a long journey with your team-mates, who feel like sisters, winning a trophy means so much.

“We know what we are coming up against, probably the best team in the world - but this is where we want to be.

“As Arsenal, we want to take this club back to finals, back to where it belongs, and we really want to go out there and compete. It’s a final, anything can happen.”

Arsenal have defied the odds repeatedly during their Champions League run.

In the quarter-finals, they knocked out Real Madrid despite losing the first leg in Spain 2-0. They produced another comeback in the semi-finals, beating Lyon 4-1 away from home after losing 2-1 at Emirates Stadium the week before.

Holders Barcelona in the final will be their toughest task, though, given the Spanish side are the holders and have won the Champions League in three of the past four seasons.

In the semi-finals this season, Barca dismantled domestic treble-winners Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate.

“Their history speaks for itself, what they have won, the players they have got,” says Russo. “But we have performed at a really high level this year as well.

Russo in the new Arsenal home kit for the 2025-26 season

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“The journey we have been on in this European run has been really exciting and everyone has performed in big moments. We are just locked in on this mission.”

Russo will have a key role to play if Arsenal are to pull off a shock.

The striker believes this season is the best of her career and the 26-year-old puts it down to the way she has developed her game.

Legendary striker Kelly Smith, part of the Arsenal squad that won the Champions League in 2007, has helped as a member of the coaching staff. With 130 goals in 156 games for Arsenal - and more than 100 England caps, too - there are few better people for Russo to learn from.

“Kelly doesn’t say a lot, but when she does you really listen,” says Russo. “Before, I was a little bit more naive and wanted to get out of position to get on the ball, maybe drifting wide and too deep.

“I understand the importance of staying away more now, staying central, between the goalposts, being a problem for the centre-halves and just making sure I am there when I need to be.

Russo has shone in attack alongside Mariona Caldentey, who has been a revelation since joining Arsenal from Barcelona in the summer.

Caldentey was named Player of the Season in the WSL this month and, like Russo, she has scored seven goals during Arsenal’s run to the Champions League final.

“She is world class,” says Russo. “From the first training session, I knew how good she was. She’s a special player. She is super technical, wants the ball everywhere and can create things out of nothing. When you play with her, you want to get her on the ball. She delivers every week, her performances this year have been incredible.”

Russo admits the Arsenal squad have been picking Caldentey’s brain this week as they prepare to face her old club.

Laia Codina, who left Barcelona for Arsenal two summers ago, has also been tapped up.

“It’s important to have a player’s input. They both know a lot of those players inside out,” says Russo. “It will definitely help us.”