Arsenal's women's side is once again finding itself in familiar territory, and the atmosphere at the club feels like a vivid echo of past triumphs. Both the senior men's and women's squads are currently battling it out in the Champions League semi‑finals, while the Gunners' women are preparing for a second consecutive showdown with Olympique Lyonnais in the tournament's final four. This repeat encounter underscores how Arsenal has cemented itself as a perennial contender on the European stage. The quest for back‑to‑back titles is already a reality for the team after they toppled Barcelona in Lisbon last season, a victory that was sealed by the decisive strike of Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius.
Blackstenius has built a reputation for delivering in the most critical moments, having featured in four finals for Arsenal and finding the net in three of those decisive games. Her knack for rising to the occasion has made her a fan favourite and a cornerstone of the squad's attacking arsenal. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports ahead of the first leg of Sunday's semi‑final at the Emirates, Blackstenius spoke about her deep‑seated love for winning with Arsenal.
"I really love to win with this team. I would do anything for that to happen," she said, emphasizing her commitment to the club's ambitions.
She added, "As a striker, you always want to score goals and in these big games, there's something special about it." Her words capture the blend of personal drive and collective purpose that fuels the Gunners. Arsenal enter the match buoyed by a stellar home record under head coach Renee Slegers. Despite having lost the first leg of the previous year's semi‑final, the team rallied to overturn a deficit and defeat the eight‑time European champions on French soil.
That dramatic comeback defined Arsenal's recent campaign: an underdog story that refused to accept defeat. This season, however, the narrative has shifted slightly. Having already secured a place among Europe's elite, Arsenal now find themselves as the team to beat, with opponents keen to dethrone the reigning champions.
When asked whether holding the Champions League trophy had altered the team's mindset, Blackstenius replied, "I wouldn't say it's changed anything. We know that we can achieve it and if we've done it once, we can for sure do it again." She stressed that the confidence derived from last season's success does not translate into additional pressure.
"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," she affirmed. The squad's growth over the past year has been significant, as evidenced by their ability to bounce back against formidable opponents like Real Madrid and OL Lyonne away from home, further bolstering their self‑belief. Blackstenius highlighted the importance of consistency and resilience, noting that Arsenal's reputation as a reliable contender stems from their relentless work ethic and tactical flexibility.
"When we play our best football, we're always a team to count on," she said, reinforcing the idea that the Gunners' strength lies in their collective resolve rather than individual brilliance alone. A key element of Arsenal's attacking potency this season has been the partnership between Blackstenius and Alessia Russo, who currently tops the Champions League scoring charts with eight goals in ten matches.
Their complementary styles have produced some of the most compelling football of their careers, a development that owes much to the guidance of assistant coach and former England star Kelly Smith. Smith's experience as a prolific forward has allowed her to tailor training sessions that enhance the synergy between the two strikers. "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.
She described how their differing skill sets enrich the team's tactical options. "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," she added. Blackstenius elaborated on her own role, emphasizing her desire to stretch defenses by making deep runs and creating space. "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 said. In contrast, Russo's strengths lie in ball retention and creating scoring opportunities for teammates.
"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," Blackstenius noted. The duo's chemistry has prompted Arsenal to secure Blackstenius on a new contract earlier this week, a move the club believes will add depth and flexibility to the squad. "It's a really special club in so many ways," she reflected, recalling her four‑and‑a‑half‑year journey with Arsenal.
"Since I joined, 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." Blackstenius also highlighted the club's relentless pursuit of silverware across all competitions. "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," she said, indicating that the team's ambition extends beyond a single trophy. Looking ahead, the Gunners could soon be traveling to Oslo for the Champions League final scheduled for May 23.
Given Blackstenius's track record of delivering in crucial moments, it would be surprising if she does not play a pivotal role in guiding Arsenal to that stage. Her blend of experience, composure, and goal‑scoring instinct makes her a natural candidate to influence the outcome of the biggest match of the season.
In summary, Arsenal's women's team stands at the intersection of confidence and ambition. With a seasoned striker like Stina Blackstenius leading the line, a prolific partner in Alessia Russo, and a supportive coaching staff that fosters unity, the Gunners possess all the ingredients needed to defend their title and perhaps add another trophy to their cabinet. Whether they triumph in Oslo or fall just short, the narrative of Arsenal's resurgence and resilience will continue to inspire fans and opponents alike.