There is a palpable sense of déjà vu surrounding Arsenal at the moment. Both the men’s and women’s senior squads have reached the Champions League semi‑final stage, and the women’s side find themselves preparing for a second consecutive showdown with Olympique Lyonnais in the final four.
The Gunners are chasing back‑to‑back European crowns after clinching the title by defeating Barcelona in Lisbon last season – a victory sealed by none other than Stina Blackstenius. The Swedish forward has a reputation for delivering decisive goals when the stakes are highest. In fact, she has featured in every final Arsenal has contested during her tenure, finding the net in three of those four appearances. "I love winning with this team and I would do anything to make it happen," Blackstenius told Sky Sports ahead of the first‑leg semi‑final at the Emirates.
"As a striker, you always want to score, and in big games there’s something special about it." Arsenal’s impressive home record under manager Renee Slegers gives the squad confidence, even though they lost the first leg of last year’s semi‑final before staging a dramatic comeback against the eight‑time European champions on French soil. That comeback epitomised Arsenal’s season: a group of underdogs who never accepted defeat. This time, however, they enter the competition as the team to beat.
"I wouldn’t say it changes anything that we’re the defending champions," Blackstenius added. "We know we can do it again because we’ve done it before.
That confidence is there, but I don’t feel any extra pressure compared to last season. We still work hard, we still want to reach the final – that’s the only goal we have." She reflected on the growth the side has experienced since their triumph. "We didn’t always get the best results last year, but we came back against Real Madrid and Lyon away, which gave us a huge boost.
When we play our best football, we are always a team to count on." Arsenal’s attacking duo of Blackstenius and Alessia Russo has been a revelation this campaign. Russo leads the Champions League scoring charts with eight goals in ten matches, while Blackstenius provides the clinical edge. Their partnership has flourished under the guidance of assistant coach and former England striker Kelly Smith, whose experience with forwards has been invaluable. "Kelly has played a huge part in developing us as attackers.
We spend a lot of time in training on our link‑up play and it shows on the pitch," Blackstenius explained. "We are different players, offering different qualities, and that versatility makes us strong against a variety of opponents." She described her own role as one of stretching the defence, making deep runs and creating space for herself and her teammates.
"I love to run in behind, pull the line apart and make runs into the box. It’s my job and I enjoy it," she said.
"Alessia, on the other hand, is superb with the ball and excellent at setting up chances. Together we make it difficult for any defensive line to cope." The chemistry between the two forwards was highlighted as a key reason Arsenal moved quickly to secure a new contract for Blackstenius earlier this week. More options up front are seen as a strategic advantage for the club. "Arsenal is a special club in many ways," Blackstenius reflected.
"Since I arrived four and a half years ago, so much has happened. The league is fun, the supporters are amazing, and the environment feels like home. We want to win silverware and compete in every competition. I can see the club continuing to grow and push forward." Looking ahead, Arsenal could soon be travelling to Oslo for the Champions League final on 23 May.
Given Blackstenius’s knack for scoring in crucial moments, it would not be surprising if she plays a pivotal role in guiding the Gunners to that stage. Beyond the pitch, the club continues to engage fans with various promotions, including a Super 6 competition offering a £250,000 prize pool. As the season progresses, Arsenal’s blend of experience, talent, and determination positions them as a formidable contender for another historic European triumph.