Arsenal striker Alessia Russo praised teammate Mariona Caldentey ahead of the Gunners’ Champions League quarter-final first leg away to Real Madrid.

Summer signing Mariona has been one of the Gunners’ standout players this season after joining on a free transfer from Barcelona.

The three-time Champions League winner has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, including five in Europe.

Mallorca-born Caldentey spent ten years with Barcelona, and with Real Madrid Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final opponents, the Gooner Fanzine asked Alessia Russo about what this tie means to the Spaniard.

“Yeah, she’s definitely a Barcelona fan!” Russo told the Gooner.

“She's been great since she's come in,” the in-form Russo added. “I feel like I learned a lot off of her too, she's obviously a world-class player, and a person too. 

“If you need anything she's there, and I like to talk football with her because obviously she comes from a completely different style and culture of football than I have grown up in England. 

“She's been great, you can see her qualities all over the pitch, and I really enjoy playing with her.”