Why Alessia Russo Doesn’t Always Play as a Striker for Arsenal
Tonight England’s number nine, Alessia Russo, appears to be playing in that position for Arsenal. That has not always been a given this season, and the rotation has sparked debate among fans and analysts alike.
Renee Slegers’ Tactical Rotation of Russo
Arsenal manager Renee Slegers has often rotated Russo’s position, preferring her in the number 10 role at some point in all their WSL games so far this season. The approach reflects Slegers’ desire to deploy Russo in different phases of play, but it has not yet produced goals.
Russo is yet to get off the mark this season despite attempting 11 shots, including 10 from inside the box. The lack of end product in the number 10 role stands in stark contrast to her output when deployed as a central striker.
Striker vs Attacking Midfielder: The Numbers Tell the Story
The statistical contrast is hard to ignore. In total, Russo has netted just three times in 507 minutes as an attacking midfielder, compared with the 21 she has scored in 2,913 minutes as a striker under Slegers.
Her chance creation rate is slightly higher in the number 10 role — 1.42 chances per 90 minutes versus 1.27 as a striker — but she records fewer shots and fewer passes finishing in the final third, along with fewer shots from inside the box when deployed deeper.
Key stat: 21 goals in 2,913 minutes as a striker vs 3 goals in 507 minutes as an attacking midfielder under Slegers.
Last Season’s Form: One of the WSL’s Deadliest Finishers
Last season, only Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw scored more goals in the WSL than Russo’s 13. She also finished second in European competition, behind Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor — a profile that screams pure striker.
Given that pedigree, the positional experiment warrants scrutiny. Arsenal supporters have watched their most prolific scorer of recent seasons spend extended periods in a role that suppresses her strengths: penetrating runs into the box, late arrivals from deep, and clinical finishing in crowded penalty areas.
What This Means for Arsenal’s Attack
The core question is whether Slegers’ rotation is a short-term tactical phase or a long-term repositioning. Russo’s physicality, movement, and finishing instinct are arguably best suited to the central striker role — the very position England deployed her in during recent international duty.
If the number 10 experiments continue without goals, Arsenal could find themselves without a reliable back-up option up front once the striker returns from injury or rotation. The risk is wasting Russo’s peak years in a role that suppresses her greatest attributes.
The Bigger Picture for England’s Number Nine
For the England national team, Russo’s club form directly impacts her standing in Sarina Wiegman’s plans. A prolific club season reinforces her claim to a central role in the national side; a prolonged goal drought in an unfamiliar position could shift the selection calculus.
The coming weeks will be telling. If Russo returns to the striker’s role and resumes her scoring, the rotation can be framed as a successful tactical tweak. If the drought continues, Arsenal may need to reconsider what works best for their most dangerous attacker — and what works best for England’s number nine.
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