In a lineup choked with Barcelona champions, two Arsenal players still stood tall to claim their European Team of the Season crowns.
Barcelona may have crushed Lyon 4-0 to hoist the trophy, but they couldn’t completely monopolise Europe’s ultimate lineup.
While the Spanish giants locked down five spots in the Champions League Team of the Season, featuring tournament top scorer Ewa Pajor (11 goals) and Player of the Tournament Alexia Putellas, Arsenal still forced their way into the conversation.
United States international Emily Fox and lethal forward Alessia Russo both earned thoroughly deserved spots in the Elite XI. It is a massive nod to the level the duo maintained throughout a gruelling campaign that saw Arsenal’s title defence cut short by Lyon in the semi-finals.
The Russo paradox: brilliant but blighted by bias
Russo’s inclusion is an absolute no-brainer when you look at the cold, hard data. The England striker weaponised Arsenal’s attack, dismantling defences to the tune of seven goals in just 10 European appearances.
Yet, despite another breathtaking individual campaign, the goal machine is already running into a familiar, frustrating wall: the media’s moving goalposts. Spanish press outlets are already dismissing Russo’s Ballon d’Or credentials simply because Arsenal failed to lift the trophy this year.
It’s a laughable double standard; when Russo actually won both the Champions League and the Euros last season, she was still overlooked in favour of a Barcelona player who achieved neither. The criteria, it seems, change depending on the shirt you wear.
Fox’s elite status cemented
While Russo grabbed the headlines, Emily Fox quietly demonstrated why she is one of the most reliable and elite operators in world football.
The American fullback was an absolute powerhouse on the European stage, anchoring Arsenal’s backline with a blend of tactical intelligence and relentless energy. Her inclusion in the Team of the Season isn’t just a flash in the pan; it is definitive validation of the world-class consistency she brings to North London.
Rounding out the rest of the star-studded XI were Lyon’s trio of Wendie Renard, Selma Bacha, and Melchie Dumornay, alongside Bayern Munich’s Pernille Harder. Still, it’s the Arsenal duo who proved you don’t need a winners’ medal to be recognised as royalty.
3 Comments
Great read drift boss! It’s impressive to see both Alessia Russo and Emily Fox recognized in the Champions League Team of the Season. Russo’s seven European goals really underline how important she was for Arsenal, while Fox’s consistency and defensive work deserve just as much attention. Hopefully their performances continue to get the recognition they deserve!
Funny how Barcelona took most of the headlines, but Arsenal still managed to get two players into that elite XI — that says a lot about how much their women’s team is still punching up in Europe. The whole thing feels a bit like mega man x regenesis: the big powers dominate the scene, but a couple of standouts still break through and make their mark.
Two Arsenal players making the elite XI even with Barcelona dominating the Team of the Season is actually a pretty big statement. It’s like narinig mo ba how people always talk up the Barca final, but Arsenal still had names that couldn’t be ignored — that says a lot about their impact in Europe.