There is a palpable sense of déjà vu surrounding Arsenal at the moment. Not only have both of the club's senior sides reached the Champions League semi‑final stage, but the women’s team are set to meet Olympique Lyonnais once again in the final four, marking a second consecutive year of this high‑profile showdown.
The Gunners are chasing a back‑to‑back European crown after clinching the title in Lisbon last season by defeating Barcelona. The decisive goal in that final came from forward Stina Blackstenius, whose knack for finding the net when the stakes are highest has become something of a trademark.
In fact, she has featured in every one of the four finals she has contested while wearing the Arsenal shirt, scoring in three of those matches. "I really love to win with this team. I would do anything for that to happen," Blackstenius told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview ahead of the first‑leg semi‑final at the Emirates on Sunday. "As a striker, you always want to score goals and in these big games, there's something special about it." Arsenal enjoy a superb home record under manager Renee Slegers, and that confidence is evident despite the fact that they lost the first‑leg semi‑final last year before staging a dramatic comeback against the eight‑time European champions on French soil.
That comeback epitomised the narrative of Arsenal’s recent rise: a squad that was once dismissed as underdogs now finds itself the target of every opponent’s preparation. "I wouldn't say it's changed anything [being the Champions League holders]," Blackstenius continued. "We know that we can achieve it and if we've done it once, we can for sure do it again.
That is the confidence we have in this team, but I don't feel that we play with more pressure now than last season." She added that the team’s ambition remains singular: "We still try to work really hard to achieve this. We know that we want to play in the final and that's the only goal we have." The experience gained from last season’s campaign has been invaluable. Arsenal rallied from a deficit against Real Madrid and then overcame OL Lyonnes away from home, moments that bolstered their self‑belief.
"When we play our best football, we're always a team to count on," Blackstenius affirmed. A key element of Arsenal’s attacking firepower this season is Alessia Russo, who currently tops the Champions League scoring charts with eight goals in ten matches. The partnership between Russo and Blackstenius has blossomed, producing some of the most attractive football the club has ever displayed. Much of that progress can be credited to the guidance of assistant coach and former England striker Kelly Smith, who works closely with the forwards.
"She [Smith] has played a big part of it working with us forwards. We have so much time in training to work on the relationships and it works really well," Blackstenius explained. "We are different players, and we can give the team different things.
That's the quality we have in this team and that's what makes us really good as well because we all give something different, which can be good against different teams." Describing her own role, Blackstenius said, "Alessia and I complement each other. I've always been a player that wants to run deep and try to stretch the line, make the runs in the box to create space for myself and for everyone around me. I see that as my role, and I'm more than happy with that." She praised Russo’s technical abilities: "Alessia has so many qualities in the way she plays as well, she's really good with the ball, really good with setting up players in good situations, so we can really help each other in that way and make it as hard as possible for the defensive line." The chemistry between the two attackers is one of the reasons Arsenal moved quickly to secure Blackstenius on a new contract earlier this week, adding depth and versatility to an already potent lineup.
"It's a really special club in so many ways," Blackstenius reflected. "Since I joined four and a half years ago, so much has happened. It's such a fun league to play in and with the supporters we have, it's such a good group of girls, good staff and everything around this environment feels like home." She emphasized the collective ambition: "We also want to go for silverware and compete in every competition we're in. I feel like we keep growing and that's a big part as well, that you can see where it's about to go." Looking ahead, the Gunners could soon be travelling to Oslo, where the Champions League final is scheduled for 23 May.
Given her track record, it would not be surprising if Blackstenius once again plays a pivotal role in guiding Arsenal to that ultimate stage. Beyond the pitch, the club continues to engage fans with various promotions, such as the Super 6 competition offering a £250,000 prize pool, underscoring the vibrant community that surrounds women’s football at Arsenal. In summary, Arsenal’s women’s side arrive at the semi‑final with a blend of experience, confidence, and a clear hunger for another European triumph.
With Blackstenius leading the line, Russo providing a complementary threat, and the coaching staff fine‑tuning every detail, the team appears well‑equipped to defend their title and potentially add another chapter to their growing legacy.