Arsenal are in the best possible place heading into the first leg of their Women's Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea, so says Alessia Russo. 

The Gunners welcome their London rivals to Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, hoping to build on their impressive recent run of form across all competitions. 

It will be Arsenal's second Champions League tie against a fellow English side, losing both legs of their 2013-14 quarter-final tie to Birmingham City (0-1 away, 0-2 home). 

Renee Slegers' side are also aiming to win six consecutive matches in the competition for the second time, previously doing so in 2012-13.

Arsenal are, however, winless in the first leg of their last four two-legged quarter-final ties in this competition (D1 L3), since beating Torres in 2012-13. 

But their route to the last eight has been spearheaded by Russo, who is the leading goalscorer in the 2025-26 edition of the Champions League with seven goals. 

She is only the third player across the last five campaigns to score at least twice with her head (two), right foot (three) and left foot (two), after Kadidiatou Diani in 2023-24 and Marie-Antoinette Katoto in 2021-22. 

"I'm just enjoying football," Russo told reporters. "We've got so many great players that I get to play with week in, week out.

"When you get to this point of the season, you know what you're going to get from your team-mates and how you can best set them up in different areas.

"I think the whole team in general is in a really good place. Training is fun, and we're performing well in the games as well.

"Hopefully that continues, but I'm feeling good and confident and very happy in this team."

Russo's next goal will see her set an outright record for the most goals by an English player in a single edition of the competition, with only Vivianne Miedema (10 in 2019-20) and Kim Little (nine in 2009-10) netting more times for a Women's Super League club in the same campaign.

But the England international was keen to focus on her team, having got the better of Chelsea already this season.

Chelsea went winless in their two WSL meetings with Arsenal this season (D1 L1), but they have not played 3+ games against the same side in a campaign without winning at least one since 2018-19 (P4 D2 L2 vs Manchester City).

The Blues have only lost two of their last 14 away games against the Gunners in all competitions, however (W8 D4), and are given a 37.5% chance of taking a lead back to Stamford Bridge next Wednesday by the Opta supercomputer. 

"We've looked at a lot of things that can try and break Chelsea down," Russo added. "We're aware that they're a top side and used to competing at the highest level, but so are we.

"So we're prepared, feeling good, we've had a good few days of diving into them and looking at where we can hurt them – but also being ready for what they're going to offer, too.

"Obviously, we had an amazing season last year in the Champions League and won it previously as well. I feel grateful that Arsenal have that history.

"But it's now a new season, times change and all our focus is on doing it again. We love that feeling of winning the trophy in Lisbon.

"I think every player will say they want to experience that all over again, and it's not easy. We're proud of what we've done in the past, but now we just want to do it all over again."