In case anyone needed reminding, Alessia Russo is Arsenal and England’s best goalscorer.

On Wednesday, she scored a hat-trick to become the highest-scoring English player in the women’s Champions League. Russo’s three goals took her to a total of 23 in the competition, which saw her surpass Fran Kirby’s previous record of 21.

England manager Sarina Wiegman was watching in the stands and would have been delighted to see her striker put in such a clinical performance. After a slow start to the season, Russo has now scored nine goals in her last seven games for club and country.

That stat is even more impressive when you consider she has only been playing as a striker for England. For the last few games, Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers has opted to play Russo in the No 10 position rather than her more natural No 9 role.

There has been much debate about Russo’s position but Slegers will likely feel vindicated that her forward scored three while playing in a deeper role.

That said, all three of Russo’s goals came from inside the penalty box. One was a penalty and one was from a corner – so hardly a vote of confidence for the No 10 debate.

Russo playing in a deeper role has worked better when Olivia Smith, rather than Stina Blackstenius, has played in front of her. There are games where Russo can flourish in the No 10 and Benfica at home was one. But there are other times where Russo and Arsenal would benefit from her being the out-and-out striker.

Her role with England is unequivocal and Wiegman may wonder why Russo is moved around so much with her club.

What will please Wiegman is how Russo is finding form at the right time. The Lionesses face back-to-back World Cup play-off matches with Ukraine in November and December and need Russo to be at the top of her game.

Arsenal, who have struggled for goals this season, are also reliant on Russo. Her return to form is timely for both.

Russo finished ninth in the Ballon d’Or rankings this week, after coming third in 2025. The forward still has areas of improvement. She may be Arsenal and England’s best finisher but there are times when she can be wasteful in front of goal. But she also has a strong mentality. When Russo misses a chance, it does not play on her mind as it would with some strikers. She has the ability to bounce back and, more often than not, she will take the next opportunity.

The forward was handed the captain’s armband by Slegers and she led by example on the pitch. She opened the scoring just before half-time after Arsenal had struggled to break down Benfica. She then scored her second with a header from a corner, before completing her hat-trick from the spot.

Arsenal have a handful of difficult fixtures in November, including games against Barcelona, Lyon and London City Lionesses. They and England will hope Russo can continue her fine goalscoring run. 

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Carpenter to the rescue for Chelsea

Chelsea edged past Roma to maintain their unbeaten start in the Champions League.

Ellie Carpenter came off the bench to open the scoring early in the second half before Kadeisha Buchanan ensured victory with an 89th-minute header.

Carpenter has enjoyed an excellent start to the season for Chelsea. Despite playing as a right-back, this was the Australian international’s fourth goal in all competitions while she has also contributed three assists.

“First half we struggled to score but had good opportunities,” she said. “At half-time the coach [Sonia Bompastor] said we need to put away our chances. I just tried to help the team attack, go forward and get shots off. I’m happy I did and scored and helped get the team three points tonight.

“I love getting forward, I love helping this team get forward, defend and I just try to do everything for the team.”

Chelsea could have been out of sight much earlier in the game but wasted a number of excellent chances. Lauren James hit the bar while Aggie Beever-Jones was guilty of missing the best chance of the first half. The striker, who has not scored since March, looks low on confidence and was unable to make the most of a rare start.

Beever-Jones has had fitness issues throughout the year which has contributed to her lack of form, but she will be disappointed not to have ended her goal drought.

There will be some concern around young midfielder Lexi Potter, who limped off with an injury late in the game. Potter has been a standout player for Chelsea this season and made her England debut against Greece last month.

The midfielder looked to be in some discomfort after colliding with a Roma player during a tackle.

Chelsea won their opening game of the league phase against Austria Wien but were then held to a draw by last season’s beaten finalists Lyon. Their remaining fixtures are favourable and Bompastor will expect her side to take one of the four automatic qualification spots for the knock-out stages. Chelsea face Swedish side Hacken in their next European game on Nov 10.