Alessia Russo’s second-minute opener in Arsenal’s 3-0 north London derby win over Tottenham signified almost everything they have looked to implement since Renee Slegers took interim charge last month.
The former Netherlands international, who stepped into the role after Jonas Eidevall’s departure, highlighted a focus on three things ahead of the short trip to Tottenham Hotspur: “Being calm, being clear and ruthlessness.”
All three were on display for Russo’s finish as she quickly decided to flash a left-footed effort across Becky Spencer and into the bottom corner. It was a continuation of the confidence that has been seen both in Russo, and the Arsenal team as a whole, particularly since the October break.
Before that interval, Russo and her team-mates were struggling to convert meaningful chances into goals — a contributing factor in Eidevall’s departure. Arsenal’s collective xG grew year-on-year under the Swede, but the rate they outscored these tallies did not take the same trajectory. In their five Women’s Super League and Champions League matches under Eidevall this season (qualifiers excluded), they scored just six goals from an xG of 8.6. That has since improved to 19 goals from 13.62 xG in six matches under Slegers.
Russo scored zero goals from an xG…
