Alessia Russo makes history with hat-trick as Arsenal cruise to Benfica win

Alessia Russo wrote herself into the history books once again as she became the highest English goal-scorer in the Women’s Champions League. Her hat-trick gave Arsenal a 3-0 win over Benfica to send the Gunners up to second in the league phase table.

It is safe to say that Arsenal’s season has yet to fully burst into life. Struggles in front of goal, unforced errors and rather lackadaisical performances have defined the opening two months. Saturday’s north London derby win did, however, feel like it could be a springboard for some much-needed momentum, a gritty performance that could kickstart Renée Slegers’ side into life.

There was no less pressure coming into this match. Taking on the Portuguese champions at home felt like another must-win encounter with their European form having mirrored their domestic struggles to date. A last-ditch win over HB Køge and heartbreaking draw against Paris FC (in which they surrendered a two-goal lead) left them fifth before kick-off, with the spectres of Barcelona and OL Lyonnes looming on the horizon.

While Taylor Hinds and Caitlin Foord retained their places after an impressive showing against Tottenham, Slegers made three changes to freshen things up. Ona Batlle returned to her more natural right-back position while summer signings Élisa De Almeida and Géraldine Reuteler made their full debuts.

Slegers was keen to highlight Benfica’s strong identity pre-match, having had first-hand experience of their resilience in last year’s league phase. Arsenal came away 2-0 winners on that occasion but the Portuguese had proved hard to break down.

So it proved in a first half in which Arsenal once again dominated but struggled to break through against a well-structured opposition. With Olivia Smith operating as the central striker, she tried to use her pace to stretch the backline but the visitors proved robust. Georgia Stanway had an early chance, stinging the gloves of Lena Pauels.

It was the visitors, in fact, who had the best opportunity of the first half-hour. Frøya Dorsin was left beating the turf in frustration after spurning a glorious opportunity to catch out a stranded Misa Rodríguez with a lob. It was a moment that jolted Arsenal into life as they upped the tempo and began to rain pressure on Benfica’s goal. First Smith set up Russo for a low shot that went narrowly wide before Smith herself forced Pauels into a fine save with a well-taken volley.

The pressure was mounting and Arsenal found their breakthrough just before half-time when Russo produced a sublime finish after a well-worked move down the left. It was the England international’s seventh in seven games for club and country, a sign that her early-season woes in front of goal have dissipated.

It was like a switch had flipped for Arsenal after the break as they exuded confidence, zipping the ball around the Meadow Park turf with increasing ease. Smith looked more and more comfortable in her central role while Foord came alive down the left, the latter denied a clear shot on goal by a superb last-ditch challenge.

The conductor behind them all was Russo as she pressed and stretched the play to her tune. The captain on the night was at the heart of things once more as the hosts doubled their lead, rising high to glance home a corner.

She completed her hat-trick shortly afterwards, converting from the spot after Foord was brought down by Catarina Amado.

It was a finish that marked the 200th goal of Slegers’ tenure and one that may have further eased the pressure on the head coach. With every minute that passed the hosts looked increasingly like themselves and could have added more to their tally on the night. There will no doubt be sterner tests to come in Europe, more immediately away to Barcelona in a fortnight’s time, but this was a victory that signified something more important than just second place in the Champions League table.