Arsenal's women's side are once again finding themselves in a familiar narrative. Not only have both of the club's senior teams reached the Champions League semi‑final stage, but the women's squad is set to meet Olympique Lyonnais in the penultimate round for a second year running.
The atmosphere at the Emirates is charged with a blend of anticipation and déjà vu, as the Gunners chase a historic back‑to‑back triumph after their dramatic victory over Barcelona in Lisbon last season, a match in which Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius etched her name into the club's folklore by scoring the decisive goal. Blackstenius has built a reputation for delivering in the most consequential moments. In every final she has contested while wearing the Arsenal badge, she has emerged victorious, finding the back of the net in three out of the four occasions. Her confidence and hunger were evident in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports ahead of the first leg of the semi‑final at the Emirates, where she said, "I really love to win with this team.
I would do anything for that to happen. As a striker, you always want to score goals and in these big games, there's something special about it." This mindset encapsulates the spirit that has propelled Arsenal through a campaign defined by resilience and a refusal to accept defeat.
Under the guidance of head coach Renée Slegers, Arsenal have cultivated a formidable home record, and the players enter the encounter with a strong belief in their ability to repeat history. Last year, despite losing the first leg, they overturned the deficit in France to defeat the eight‑time European champions, a comeback that epitomised their underdog narrative. This season, however, the narrative has shifted; Arsenal are now the team that other clubs fear, the side that others aim to topple.
When asked whether holding the Champions League title had altered the team's approach, 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.
That is the confidence we have in this team, but I don't feel that we play with more pressure now than last season. 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 highlighted the growth the squad has experienced, noting that their ability to bounce back against elite opponents such as Real Madrid and OL Lyonne away from home has reinforced their self‑belief. "When we play our best football, we're always a team to count on," she added.
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 chart with eight goals in ten matches. Their complementary styles have produced some of the most fluid and incisive football the club has seen in recent memory, a development that can be traced back to the influence of assistant coach and former England striker Kelly Smith.
"She 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." Blackstenius described her own role as one of stretching the defence, making deep runs, and creating space for herself and her teammates. "I see that as my role, and I'm more than happy with that," she said. She praised Russo's technical ability and vision, noting that the Italian forward's knack for holding up play and setting up teammates complements Blackstenius's penchant for penetrating runs.
"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. I enjoy playing with her very much and want to see if we can keep improving even more." Recognising the value of such diversity, Arsenal moved quickly to secure Blackstenius on a new contract earlier this week, emphasizing that having multiple attacking options is a strategic advantage. Reflecting on her four‑and‑a‑half‑year tenure at the club, she said, "It's a really special club in so many ways. 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.
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 find themselves traveling to Oslo for the Champions League final on 23 May, and Blackstenius is confident that she will play a pivotal role in that journey.
Her track record of delivering in high‑stakes matches suggests that she will be a central figure as Arsenal aim to lift the trophy for a second consecutive season. Beyond the on‑field drama, the women's game continues to expand its reach, with free highlights, streaming options without contracts, and interactive contests such as the Super 6 competition offering fans the chance to win substantial prizes. These initiatives reflect the growing popularity and commercial appeal of women's football, providing a broader platform for players like Blackstenius and Russo to inspire the next generation. In summary, Arsenal's women's team enters this semi‑final with a blend of seasoned confidence, tactical versatility, and a hunger for redemption.
With Blackstenius leading the line, Russo providing a creative spark, and Kelly Smith shaping the forward unit, the Gunners possess the ingredients needed to overcome OL Lyonne once more and potentially secure a historic back‑to‑back Champions League triumph.