Arsenal boss Renee Slegers said Alessia Russo "is everything" after the striker's hat-trick sealed a 3-0 victory over Benfica and made her England's all-time leading goalscorer in the Women's Champions League.

The 27-year-old struck in the 39th minute with a sublime sweeping finish for her 21st goal in the competition, which put her level alongside former Chelsea forward Fran Kirby.

But she soon claimed the standalone record with a glancing header from a corner to ensure Arsenal secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Russo then rounded off the perfect evening at Meadow Park with her third, converting from the penalty spot to take her tally to 23 goals in Europe.

"She is everything. It's hard to know where to start," Slegers told Disney+.

"She is such a humble, nice human being, really good, cares for everything and everyone, does everything to the fullest.

"There is so much to say about Alessia and it is a privilege for me to work with her."

After a slow start to the season that saw her blank in her first five matches, Russo has now scored nine goals in her past seven games for club and country.

"It feels really nice. I love playing in the Champions League and I love scoring goals," Russo told Uefa.

"It was really good to get the win. To score a hat-trick is really special."

Caitlin Foord, who had won the penalty for Arsenal when she was brought down by Catarina Amado, thought she had scored a late fourth for the Gunners, but it was ruled out for offside following a quick check by the Video Assistant Referee.

"It's incredible for Less, I am so happy for her," Foord said of Russo's hat-trick on Disney+.

"She's been pushing and pushing to get goals and to get three tonight - I'm not surprised. I see her do it every day in training."

After a slow start to the season, Russo is finally starting to find her form again - and it could not come at a better time for struggling Arsenal.

The Gunners' seven goals in the WSL is the fourth lowest in the league and it has left them 10 points behind leaders Manchester City after just seven games.

Despite finishing last season as Arsenal's top goalscorer with 13 WSL goals, Renee Slegers has continued to deploy Russo in the number 10 role - a decision that has divided opinion among Gunners fans.

But against Benfica, Russo made a compelling case to return to her preferred position as a centre-forward.

Wearing the captain's armband, she was at the heart of Arsenal's attacking play, outshining Olivia Smith who led the line, with her clinical finishing in front of goal.

"This is where I want Alessia Russo, this is why she was up for the Ballon d'Or because she is one of the best finishers in the game," former Arsenal forward Lianne Sanderson told Disney+.

"I don't want to see her in that deep lying midfield role. The players are running in all different spaces with no real tactical awareness. This is why Arsenal have struggled this season."

Russo's second goal was typical of an out-and-out striker as she pounced on Steph Catley's corner, glanced the header into the ground and saw the ball nestle in the bottom-left corner.

Ex-Arsenal defender Gilly Flaherty added: "I would rather have Russo in the box there, in that position. You know Russo is going to stick her head on that."

Russo, who was the top-ranked English player at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony with a ninth-placed - can now set her sights on bigger and better records.

She may have become the top English scorer of all time in the Women's Champions League, but she has a long way to go before she can come close to Lyon forward Ada Hegerberg's all-time leading record of 69 goals.

Her hat-trick has certainly helped relieve the pressure on Arsenal boss Renee Slegers, who was facing growing scrutiny following a five-game winless run in the WSL.

They snapped that unfortunate streak in Saturday's north London derby against Tottenham and a second successive victory will only boost Arsenal's confidence.

The victory lifts the Gunners up to second and helps their chances of qualifying for the knockout phase of the competition, while Benfica drop to 11th.

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