Will Alessia Russo injury ruin Arsenal's hopes of Women's Champions League glory? Lionesses star in race against time to line up against Lyon in European semi-final

It's been a career-best goal-scoring season for Russo, and there is still plenty of football left to play, too. The 26-year-old is on track for her most prolific return in the Women's Super League, just one strike off last season's tally of 12, and has scored seven times in the Champions League. Only Barcelona's Claudia Pina has netted more times in the competition proper so far this term, with the England star also just one behind Manchester City's Khadija Shaw in the race for the WSL Golden Boot.

In the league, she is out-performing her expected goals (xG) statistic by 2.12, having under-performed by 0.41 last term; her big chance conversion rate has soared to a career-best 57 percent, having stood just below 43% last year; and her shot conversion rate has also improved from 15.2% to 17.7%.

But it's not just the goals Russo scores that make her crucial to Arsenal. "She does so many other things for the team as well that are so important," Gunners boss Renee Slegers said after that win over Real Madrid. "You saw our press for example, today. She put so much work into it, like the others.

"It's always good for forwards and the players who get into those positions to finish attacks and get the ball into the net. It's important for them because that's something they need to bring to the team in games. Of course, it's good for Less. But you can see she's so consistent, stable, as a person, that she doesn't get swayed by if she scores or not, or what exactly her contribution to the result is. She just works really hard for the team and she keeps on going."

Be it her hard work off the ball, her ability to link play or how she creates for others, Russo is a vital cog in an Arsenal team that has been seriously impressive since Slegers took charge back in October.

So, what do the Gunners do if they are without Russo on Saturday? They do have another top-level striker in their squad, in Stina Blackstenius. With over 100 caps for Sweden and experience playing in major finals for club and country, she is no stranger to the pressure that a big game like this one against Lyon brings.

She's also got an impressive list of huge moments in Arsenal colours. In last year's League Cup final, it was Blackstenius who delivered the match-winning moment in extra-time to defeat Chelsea 1-0, while the Gunners' run to the Champions League semi-finals in the 2022-23 season saw the Swede score in three successive knockout games, with her strike in the second leg of the quarter-final against Bayern Munich sealing Arsenal's place in the last four.

However, Blackstenius is a completely different player to Russo. As far as centre-forwards go, the two almost could not be less alike. If the Swede was to start instead, Arsenal would have to at least slightly change the way they set-up for this tie, as Blackstenius will not hold the ball up in the same way as her English team-mate, she won't be as involved in linking play and building attacks, and she'll naturally look to get in behind with her great movement and electric pace, which will require a different type of service when compared to that Russo typically demands.

It all serves to highlight just how important the England star is to what Arsenal do. At times in the past, she has come in for criticism because her strengths have been in things aside from the goal-scoring, with her certainly not a typical No.9. But the work Russo has done to improve in front of goal deserves a lot of credit and it has seen her deliver plenty of important strikes while remaining so central to the Gunners' all-round principles.

Russo isn't the only potential absentee for Arsenal this week. Kelly, who was simply unplayable when the Gunners defeated Real Madrid last month, also withdrew from Lionesses duty with an injury and is therefore a doubt for Lyon's visit. She isn't as unique a blow as Russo would be, given Arsenal regularly rotate their wingers and have the likes of Caldentey, Beth Mead and Caitlin Foord to call on in those areas. That said, her absence would still be a big hit to the team.

Daphne van Domselaar, the Gunners' No.1 goalkeeper, is set to miss out as well. The Netherlands star suffered an ankle injury on international duty that Slegers admitted could sideline her for six weeks. Like at centre-forward, Arsenal do have an experienced back-up in this position, as Manuela Zinsberger has been the club's first-choice shot-stopper for most of her six years in north London. That said, she has been usurped by Van Domselaar this term.

This weekend will present a huge test of Slegers' management, then, which has been near-faultless since she assumed the head coach role upon Jonas Eidevall's departure just weeks into the campaign. It could be a huge opportunity for Blackstenius, who was hooked at half-time in the first leg against Real Madrid, and there is real emphasis on the rest of those prominent in the Gunners' attack to step up and ensure it's not imperative that Russo, Kelly or anyone else has to be involved for them to win.

After the England pair both missed out on victory over Leicester City on Tuesday, Slegers said they were "doing everything they can" to be involved against Lyon. "It’s looking very good for the two," she added. But it still feels like it would be a surprise for them both to start, even if they can make the squad.

Fortunately, this entire Arsenal team has performed admirably to help put the Gunners - still the only team in English women's football to be crowned European champions - just 180 minutes away from a Champions League final. Now, regardless of who is available as they look to complete the path to Lisbon, it's up to the entire team to deliver again.