Arsenal’s Russo and Mead Inspire Next Generation with ‘Gunner Girls’ Documentary

Alessia Russo and Beth Mead, key players for Arsenal Women, recently surprised young footballers participating in the club’s new documentary series, ‘Gunner Girls.’ The documentary chronicles the journey of a local girls’ team as they accept their first steps in the sport, mentored by senior Arsenal players.

Mentoring and Community Roots

‘Gunner Girls’ highlights Arsenal’s commitment to its community roots by providing support and guidance to young players. The initiative sees members of the Arsenal Women’s senior team, including Russo and Mead, mentoring a local girls’ team as they develop their football skills. This echoes Arsenal’s founding principles, established in 1987 through a partnership with Aylesbury Ladies, aiming to create opportunities for women and girls to play football.

Russo and Mead’s Impact

Alessia Russo, who recently reached 100 appearances for the club, emphasized the importance of these community engagements. “When you do things like this, it brings you back down,” she told Sky Sports News. “Our world is crazy these days and we are so thankful for that, but when you receive to do stuff like this, inspiring the next generation and seeing the girls, it means a little bit more.”

North London Derby and WSL Campaign

The initiative coincides with Arsenal’s preparation for the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur in the Women’s Super League (WSL) on Saturday, March 28th, 2026. Arsenal will host Spurs at the Emirates Stadium, with kickoff at 5:30 PM, live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event. Russo acknowledged the significance of the derby, stating she had heard from Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, and Kim Little about the weight the game carries.

Fan Support and Arsenal’s Legacy

Beth Mead highlighted the crucial role of Arsenal’s passionate fanbase. “Maintain being amazing – we’ve got the best fans in the world,” she said to Sky Sports News. “They follow us home and away and you hear them, you know where they are and to be able to have them at the North London derby at the Emirates, keep that rivalry growing between us and the fans, it’ll be fun.”

‘Gunner Girls’ Program Details

Billie Graham, Arsenal’s women and girls coordinator, explained the program’s origins. “Gunner Girls consists of nine novice girls who attended our Premier League programme,” she told Sky Sports News. “They had never played in a team before, but we put them together with four of our Arsenal Women first team players to capture and follow their journey. The staff and players really care, and Arsenal’s commitment to the community remains strong, providing opportunities for girls who may not have had them before.”

Watch Arsenal vs Tottenham in the WSL live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 5pm; kick off 5.30pm.