12 December 2023 , 16:30
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Arsenal star Alessia Russo admitted it was a "real compliment" to draw comparisons with "idol" and club legend Thierry Henry after her two-goal show against Chelsea in the WSL.
The Gunners smashed their London rivals 4-1 to move level on points with the Blues at the top of the WSL, with Russo the hero.
Her first goal was an outstanding finish, with the England forward taking a through pass from Lia Walti in her stride before coolly beating Ann-Katrin Berger. Russo later sealed the win with an emphatic penalty to cap her best performance for the Arsenal since leaving Manchester United in the summer.
And Russo said the brace has helped her confidence after a lean period of only one goal in seven games at club level, prior to the Chelsea game.
"It does’t get much better than that," said Russo. "The occasion and playing at the Emirates in front of these fans and a top game against one of the best teams in the world, let alone the country, was great.
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"To come out on top and put in the performance we did was even better. I want to score and create as much as I can but sometimes it doesn’t work like that. It’s been a tough spell in that respect, so I was really pleased to get the goals today but also to get the win.
"Someone just said that (her first goal looking reminiscent of Thierry Henry) actually! Maybe, but that would be a real compliment to me, he (Henry) was one of my idols growing up.
"But any time I get in the box I want to put it in the back of the net and thankfully I did that today."
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: Lotte Wubben-Moy and Alessia Russo of Arsenal during the Arsenal Women's training session at London Colney on December 08, 2023 in St Albans, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Russo suffered a rare setback during the international break. She was dropped from the England side that eventually beat the Netherlands in the Nations League, after starting every game at the World Cup in the summer. Although she returned against Scotland, further disappointment came when England missed out on qualififcation in the final minutes of the group stage, which also ended Team GB's Olympic 2024 hopes.
But the centre forward bounced back in fine style against Chelsea, dominating the Blues from the early stages. Following her dominant performance Russo was also backed by teammate and close friend Lotte Wubben-Moy.
"That’s my sister, knowing the capabilities she has it was only a matter of time," Wubben-Moy said. "Football has lots of ups and downs and it was a tough international period for both teams.
"But you could see the resilience of us. That resilience is not just on the pitch but it runs deep off the pitch.
"When you have that as a foundation, it’s steady and allows you to build and put in performances like the one we did."