Russo made it five goals in four WSL games as the Gunners swept Aston Villa aside.
Arsenal made light work of Aston Villa and leapfrogged Manchester United to climb to third in the table with a 4-0 victory. The Gunners were hardly threatened by the visiting side and interim boss Renee Slegers will be pleased with the manner in which her side strolled to victory.
After a tight opening 10 minutes, Arsenal began to show their quality and it did not take long before Alessia Russo broke the deadlock after 17 minutes with a deft flick from a Kyra Cooney-Cross free-kick.
The Gunners continued to split the Villa defence time after time in the first half and the pressure eventually told seven minutes before half-time. Frida Maanum’s poke towards goal from a Mariona Caldentey cut-back bounced off the post and at the feet of Beth Mead who could not miss an open goal with Sabrina D’Angelo left stricken on the ground.
The second half saw the Gunners continue their dominance and add a third through substitute Stina Blackstenius after 70 minutes. The Swedish striker beat the Villa offside trap on the edge of the box to lift Katie McCabe’s ball over D’Angelo. Russo then rounded off a perfect afternoon for the Gunners with a stunning curling effort into the top corner after nice work from Lina Hurtig.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Emirates Stadium…
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Daphne van Domselaar (5/10):
Not troubled by her former side and will be pleased with her clean sheet.
Emily Fox (6/10):
Set the tone early on with a number of strong challenges and put in a few crosses that troubled the Villa defence. Replaced at half-time.
Leah Williamson (6/10):
A composed display from the English defender captaining the side in Kim Little’s absence. Dealt with Ebony Salmon and Rachel Daly well.
Steph Catley (7/10):
Put in a fantastic block just before the hour mark from Chasity Grant to deny a certain goal and maintain the clean-sheet.
Katie McCabe (8/10):
Played a lovely through ball to Blackstenius for the third goal and looked just as comfortable on both the left and right of defence.
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Kyra Cooney-Cross (8/10):
Her cross from a deep free-kick was swung in beautifully to find Russo for the opener. Key to maintaining the Gunners' dominance at the heart of the midfield.
Mariona Caldentey (7/10):
Pulled the strings from her deeper role in central midfield and her passing consistently stretched the Villa defence.
Frida Maanum (6/10):
Unlucky not to score the second but a typical box crashing run created the chance.
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Beth Mead (7/10):
The English winger will not score an easier goal this season after Maanum’s effort bounced kindly off the post.
Alessia Russo (9/10):
Russo continued her goalscoring run in the WSL making it four in four games with a spectacular flicked header and led the line impressively. A stunning effort in the last minute of injury time added a fourth.
Caitlin Foord (6/10):
A quiet day for the Australian but did her part in getting beyond the Villa defence and always posed a threat.
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Lotte Wubben-Moy (5/10):
Came on for Fox at half-time and did well to maintain Gunners' solidity.
Stina Blackstenius (7/10):
Caused danger for Villa the moment she stepped onto the pitch and took her goal superbly. Could have had three goals.
Laura Wienroither (5/10):
Received a warm welcome return after a difficult time away with injury.
Lina Hurtig (6/10):
Game was all but won when Hurtig came on but did well for Russo's second and Arsenal's fourth.
Kathrine Kuhl (N/A):
Saw out the closing stages in midfield, replacing the impressive Cooney Cross.
Renee Slegers (8/10):
Arsenal's interim coach will be delighted to have a comfortable afternoon in nasty conditions in north London.
