A sense of familiarity surrounds Arsenal as they prepare to face OL Lyonnes in the Champions League semi-finals for the second consecutive year. The women's team is on a mission to secure back-to-back titles after defeating Barcelona in Lisbon last year, with Stina Blackstenius scoring the winning goal. Blackstenius has a proven track record of scoring crucial goals in high-pressure games, having won all four finals she has competed in as an Arsenal player and scoring in three of them. "I have a deep passion for winning with this team, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen," she stated in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports ahead of Sunday's semi-final first leg at the Emirates.
As a striker, Blackstenius thrives on the opportunity to score goals, especially in significant matches. Arsenal's impressive home record under Renee Slegers has instilled confidence in the team as they head into the game, despite losing the first leg last year before overcoming the eight-time European champions in France.
The team's underdog spirit was a hallmark of their winning campaign, but this time, they are the ones being targeted. Blackstenius believes that being the Champions League holders has not added extra pressure, saying, "We know we can achieve it, and if we've done it once, we can definitely do it again. That's the confidence we have in this team." The forward emphasized that the team's goal remains the same - to play in the final - and that they are working hard to achieve it. Blackstenius' teammate, Alessia Russo, is currently the top scorer in the Champions League with eight goals in 10 matches.
The duo has formed a formidable partnership, thanks in part to their work with assistant coach Kelly Smith. Blackstenius praised Smith's influence, saying, "She has played a significant role in our development as forwards, and we have a great relationship. We complement each other well, and our differences make us stronger as a team." With their contract extension announced earlier this week, Arsenal is eager to capitalize on Blackstenius' skills and experience. "It's a special club in many ways," she said.
"Since I joined four and a half years ago, so much has happened. It's a fun league to play in, and with our supporters, it feels like home.
We want to compete for silverware and grow as a team, and I believe we can achieve that." As Arsenal looks to the future, they could potentially be heading to Oslo for the Champions League final on May 23. Given Blackstenius' history of performing under pressure, it wouldn't be surprising if she plays a key role in the Gunners' success.