Since the middle of March, Arsenal have played 10 games as opposed to their hosts’ four and that match sharpness was evident throughout a dominant performance.
While Slegers’ side ran out of steam on the south coast in midweek, they had far too much for a Villa side in freefall.
Shorn of the pressure of having to win to keep up the title chase, Arsenal played with freedom and, in Russo, had the game’s outstanding talent.
After Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw was named winner of the Football Writers’ Women’s Footballer of the Year award on Friday, Russo gave a reminder of her comparable ability, with the outrageous skill for Maanum’s goal just one example of how she tormented the Villa defence.
Even after the Lionesses forward was substituted after an hour, Arsenal continued to rack up the chances, managing 28 shots to Villa’s one in total.
They could have had a penalty when Miri Taylor seemed to block Smith’s shot with her elbow, before substitute Stina Blackstenius fired over when clean through and the supporting Beth Mead unmarked.
Natalia Arroyo’s Villa team nicked a late equaliser at Emirates Stadium in September but against the WSL’s stingiest defence, they showed no sign of mounting a comeback.
Retiring Villa midfielder Lucy Staniforth was given a guard of honour by both sets of players on the final home appearance of her career and was handed the armband when she replaced captain Rachel Daly in the 78th minute.
But as the 33-year-old former England international leaves, this performance from her side shows they have much to ponder as the summer approaches.