Alessia Russo Reflects on Arsenal’s ‘Blip’ Following Loss to OL Lyonnes
Alessia Russo, who scored for Arsenal, acknowledged that the team is facing a challenging period after suffering a 2-1 defeat to OL Lyonnes in their opening match of the Women’s Champions League.
Russo put the Gunners ahead in the seventh minute, but defensive mistakes allowed Melchie Dumornay to net two goals before halftime, leading to Arsenal’s fourth consecutive match without a win in all competitions, marking their longest winless streak since the inception of the Women’s Super League.
“I’m disappointed we couldn’t secure the three points. I think we’re currently experiencing a bit of a blip, and we recognize that,” Russo shared in an interview with Disney+. “It’s essential for us to examine our performance and identify ways to elevate our standards.”
She further emphasized that unforced errors have been allowing opponents to capitalize on counter-attacks. “We need to take responsibility and concentrate on how we can minimize these mistakes across all areas of play,” she explained.
Despite the setback, Russo acknowledged that there were positive aspects to their performance. “We showed glimpses of our potential tonight, and we must focus on consistently delivering results,” she said. “There were encouraging moments to build upon.”
Last year, Arsenal began their season with a loss to Bayern Munich but went on to claim the title. Russo is aware that defending their championship will pose its own set of challenges. “That experience should motivate us; we remember how hard we fought for that trophy and how rewarding it was,” she noted. “Winning with a team ignites a desire to achieve even more, and while this match didn’t unfold as planned, we will continue to strive for improvement.”
Looking ahead, Russo stated the importance of maintaining perspective throughout the season, which will inevitably have its ups and downs. “We can’t afford to get too high or too low; instead, we need to keep pushing ourselves because we dislike losing and find ourselves in situations like this,” she concluded.
Arsenal’s next challenge in the Champions League will come on October 16 with an away match against Benfica.
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