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 semi‑final stage of the Champions League, but the women’s team are once again set to meet Olympique Lyonnais in the final four for a second year running. The Gunners are chasing back‑to‑back European crowns after their triumph over Barcelona in Lisbon last season – a victory sealed by the decisive strike of Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius.
Blackstenius has built a reputation for delivering decisive goals when the stakes are highest. In fact, she has featured in four finals with Arsenal and has found the net in three of those occasions, a record that underscores her knack for rising to the occasion. "I love winning with this team and I would move mountains to make that happen," she told Sky Sports ahead of the first‑leg semi‑final at the Emirates. "As a striker, you always want to score, but in these big games there’s something extra, something magical about the moment." Under head coach Renee Slegers, Arsenal have cultivated an impressive home record, and that confidence is evident as they prepare for the encounter despite having lost the first‑leg of the previous year’s semi‑final before staging a comeback to defeat the eight‑time European champions on French soil.
That narrative – the underdog that refuses to stay down – defined Arsenal’s victorious campaign last season, and this time the team arrives as the one to be chased rather than the one chasing. "I wouldn’t say being the defending champions has changed anything," Blackstenius added. "We know we can do it again. If we achieved it once, there’s no reason we can’t repeat it.
That belief is what drives us, but I don’t feel any extra pressure compared with last season. We still work hard, we still have one goal – to reach the final." She reflected on the growth the squad has experienced since their historic win. "We learned a lot from the previous campaign – we came back against Real Madrid and Lyon away, which gave us huge confidence.
When we play our best football, we are always a team to count on." Arsenal’s attacking firepower this season is further bolstered by teammate Alessia Russo, who currently tops the Champions League scoring charts with eight goals in ten matches. The partnership between Blackstenius and Russo has blossomed, producing some of the most fluid, incisive football of their careers. A key factor behind this synergy is the guidance of assistant coach and former England striker Kelly Smith, whose experience with forward play has proved invaluable.
"Kelly has been instrumental in our development as forwards," Blackstenius explained. "We spend a lot of time in training fine‑tuning our understanding of each other’s movements, and it shows on the pitch." She went on to describe the complementary nature of their styles.
"Alessia and I bring different qualities. I like to make deep runs, stretch the defence and create space for myself and my teammates. Alessia, on the other hand, is brilliant with the ball at her feet, she can drop deep, link play and set up chances. Together we make it difficult for any back line to organise themselves." The club’s recent decision to offer Blackstenius a new contract highlights how highly they value her contributions and the tactical flexibility she provides.
"Having more options is always a plus for us," she said. "Arsenal is a special club in many ways. Since I joined four and a half years ago, so much has happened – the league is fun, the supporters are amazing, the staff are supportive, and the whole environment feels like home." She also emphasized Arsenal’s relentless ambition. "We want to win silverware and compete on every front.
We keep growing as a team, and you can see that progress every season." Looking ahead, the Gunners could soon be travelling to Oslo, where the Champions League final is scheduled for 23 May. It would not be surprising if Blackstenius again plays a pivotal role in steering Arsenal to that stage, adding another chapter to her already impressive European résumé. Beyond the on‑field drama, the club continues to engage fans with interactive experiences, such as the Super 6 competition offering a chance to win £250,000. Whether on the pitch or off it, Arsenal’s women’s side are proving they are a force to be reckoned with, and Blackstenius remains at the heart of that narrative, ready to write the next page of her storied career.