one
It was a summer morning in 2023, and the warm breeze gently swept through the streets of London Colney. Alessia had made the big move from Manchester United to Arsenal, a move that had sent shockwaves through the women's football world. There had been whispers about the potential move back in January and everyone was almost certain that she would become an Arsenal player on the last day of the transfer window. But that never happened, and she stayed in Manchester for a few more months.
Alessia Russo had always been a name in the spotlight, she was known for her clinical finishing, her incredible work ethic, and the way she carried herself on and off the pitch. After making a name for herself at Manchester United and at the European Championship in 2022, her move to Arsenal was one of the most talked about transfers of the year. Fans were eager to see how she would adapt to the team and how she’d fit into a team full of world class players.
On her first day officially as an Arsenal player, herself and her brother Luca spent the morning at the Emirates. She did media interviews, took pictures by herself and with fans. And then it was time to head to the training ground. She was due to leave for Australia in a few days, and so were many other internationals at the club. But there were a few girls still rehabbing their injuries. Alessia was greeted by the most adorable dog, Win, who she played with for a few minutes. Her tour around the facility began with a walk through the newly refurbished gym, she was quite impressed. It was a lot better than United’s that’s for sure.
As they walked through the corridor, she took in the iconic Arsenal murals, the portraits of past legends, and trophies that the club had collected over the years. It was impossible not to be reminded of the history and the expectations that came with wearing the red and white shirt.
"How are you feeling?" her brother asked, walking alongside her with a smile. Alessia smiled back, feeling the excitement building inside her.
“I’m definitely taking it all in,” she replied. “This place is incredible. I’m excited to get started.”
The tour continued, and Alessia was shown the players' lounge, a space where the team could relax, bond, and strategize. She was also shown the meeting room, where the team would come together and plan for the weeks ahead.
She was brought to another room she hadn’t seen before to take headshots for the upcoming season. And she let out a sigh of relief when she saw her England teammate, Beth Mead walk inside from just finishing a training session by herself. It was nice to see someone she was so familiar with. They hugged, exchanged pleasantries and caught up and before she knew it, they were standing side by side with a camera flashing in front of them.
“Good luck in Australia!” were Beth’s last words before they went their separate ways.
Her tour guide led her down another long corridor, past the locker rooms and the meeting room she had just seen not long ago, when they arrived at the rehab room. One of the staff made a joke about how it’s always full and she couldn’t help but let out a giggle. The door was slightly ajar, and Alessia’s curiosity piqued as she peered inside. The room was filled with a bright light and was filled with foam rollers, stretching mats, resistance bands, a cryotherapy chamber and three large beds, with two occupied. And that caught her attention.
In the middle of the room, sitting on one of them, was none other than Leah Williamson - her England teammate, and one of the best centre-backs in the world. Alongside her was Laura Wienroither, another one of Arsenal’s defenders, who had been recovering from an ACL tear - the same injury as Leah’s. Both already had surgery, but Leah was slightly ahead of Laura by a month
“Leah?” Alessia asked, her voice filled with pleasant surprise.
Leah looked up and flashed her a grin, her eyes sparkling despite being in pain with her knee. She sat up and opened her arms wide “Well, well, look who it is! Alessia Russo in red and white. Welcome to our club!”
Alessia couldn’t help but smile back, feeling a wave of relief wash over her at another familiar face. She wasted no time in hugging her back.
“How’s recovery going?” Alessia asked, nodding toward Leah’s scarred knee.
“So far, so good,” Leah replied. “I’m further along than I would've thought though.”
Laura, who had been silently sitting on the bed next to Leah, raised her head and smiled warmly. “Welcome to Arsenal. Laura Wienroither,” she introduced herself.
Alessia’s eyes flickered toward Laura, and walked around to give her a hug too. “Thanks, Laura. It’s a bit surreal, but I’m excited to be here.”
Leah chuckled and gave Alessia a playful nudge with her elbow. “You’ll fit right in. Trust me. The girls are amazing.”
As they continued chatting, Alessia was told that they needed to do a few more interviews before they called it a day, so she had to rush off.
“Thanks, both of you,” Alessia said, genuinely appreciative.
Laura smiled warmly, giving Alessia a thumbs-up. “We’re your family now. You’ll be settled in no time!”
“Go smash it, I’ll be rooting for you Less!” Leah said, talking about the World Cup.
“I’ll do my best. See you soon.” As she left the rehab room, Alessia felt that this chapter at Arsenal was going to be something special. But first was the trip to Australia.
****
It wasn’t how they would’ve hoped at all. Making it all the way to the final and losing to Spain. By just one goal. Alessia was heartbroke, as were the rest of the Lionesses. She got removed from the game after the first half, and she didn’t really understand why. She backed herself, thought she would’ve been able to score a goal to level them, though she could have gotten an assist. She could’ve made an impact, but she was never given the chance. And now she’ll never know if things would have been different if she stayed on for the second half of the game.
But after a week and a half of rest, it was time to start her new journey in London, as a Gunner. It was the first day of preseason and she couldn’t wait to be in a club environment again, a positive one should she say. She didn’t leave United on good terms with the coach, he was mainly part of the reason she left. He never really knew how to utilise her talents.
As she got inside the building, Leah, ever the charmer, was the first to introduce herself.
"Welcome to Arsenal, Alessia," she said with a wink, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "You’re going to love it here, like I said before. And if you ever need someone for advice-" she paused, letting the suggestion hang in the air.
Alessia chuckled, trying to hide the nervous flutter in her chest. Leah had this way about her - effortlessly cool, yet intense. It was like she knew exactly how to get under your skin, in the best way.
"You’ll be the first person I come to, thank you," Alessia replied.
****
The team had just wrapped up their warm-up laps around the pitch, and now it was time to get into the action. Despite the nerves roaming around in her stomach, Alessia was determined to make a great first impression. The session kicked off with a standard warm-up. The players jogged around the pitch, completing stretches as they went along. Caitlin Foord, Victoria Pelova, and Katie McCabe were already chatting amongst themselves, laughing, and cracking jokes as they jogged, while Alessia kept a steady pace just behind, still getting the lay of the land.
Next, they broke into smaller groups to work on their ball control. Lia Wälti, being a natural with the ball at her feet, was already showing Alessia some pointers on how to receive the ball with a soft touch to turn quickly. The drill was simple but effective - players had to control a ball passed to them from different angles, and then execute a pass back to the next player in line. Alessia’s first few touches were a little off as she adjusted to the speed and tempo of her new teammates, but by the third repetition, she started to find her rhythm.
Leah, despite not being allowed to train, was at the side, overseeing and offering tips. “You’ve got to take that first touch in the direction you want to go, not just trap it. Move with it,” Leah called out, her voice carrying across the pitch.
The intensity ramped up as the team moved on to finishing drills. The focus was on quick finishes so there was no time for hesitation. The ball was delivered to the forwards in varying positions, and they had to take one touch to place it past the goalkeeper.
Alessia was paired with Frida and Stina, two of Arsenal’s most clinical finishers. Frida passed the ball into Alessia, who was standing just outside the penalty box. She took the ball with a single touch, then, without hesitation, smashed it into the far corner. The ball rocketed past the keeper, and a few of the teammates cheered.
"Not bad for your first day Russo!" Katie called out, nodding approvingly.
And Alessia couldn’t help but grin, feeling that burst of confidence.
The next exercise was all about transitioning from defence to attack, and vice versa, under pressure. The forwards were put in 1v1 situations against the defenders, and the challenge was to win the ball or make a quick pass to create an attacking opportunity.
Alessia was paired with Steph Catley, and she immediately noticed the difference between Arsenal’s defending style and the one she was used to. The defenders were aggressive, quick to press, and relentless.
In the first round, Alessia made a darting run toward the goal, receiving a through ball from Lia. She managed to outpace Ilestedt but was met by Manuela Zinsberger in goal. In the split second before she shot, she felt the pressure of Zinsberger’s charging body, and she hesitated, sending the ball wide.
“Great run, but take the shot earlier!” Captain Kim Little called from the sidelines, her voice calm but assertive.
Alessia nodded, trying to shake off the miss. In the second round, when the ball came to her, she didn’t think twice - she hit it on the first touch, sending it low and fast past Zinsberger’s outstretched hands. This time, the ball nestled in the bottom corner.
“Much better,” Lia complimented with a thumbs-up, and Alessia felt a wave of relief.
The first day with Arsenal was officially complete.