There is a palpable sense of déjà vu surrounding Arsenal at the moment. Both the men’s and women’s senior squads are currently battling it out in the Champions League semi‑finals, and the women’s side find themselves preparing for a second consecutive encounter with Olympique Lyonnais in the tournament's final four. The Gunners are eyeing back‑to‑back European glory after clinching the title last season by defeating Barcelona in Lisbon, a match in which Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius delivered the decisive goal.
Blackstenius has earned a reputation for stepping up when the stakes are highest; she has featured in four finals for Arsenal and has found the net in three of them, cementing her status as a big‑game performer. Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports ahead of the first leg of Sunday’s semi‑final at the Emirates, Blackstenius expressed her passion for winning with the club: "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." Her words reflect the confidence that pervades the squad, especially under the guidance of head coach Renee Slegers, whose impressive home record has bolstered the team’s belief despite the disappointment of losing the previous year’s first leg before rallying to beat the eight‑time European champions on French soil.
Arsenal’s recent campaign has been characterised by an underdog narrative that defied expectations. The team has repeatedly demonstrated resilience, refusing to accept defeat and often turning matches around in the closing stages. This season, however, the narrative has shifted; Arsenal are now the team to watch, the side that other clubs fear most. Their consistency and determination have turned them from perpetual challengers into genuine title‑contenders.
When asked whether holding the Champions League crown had altered the squad’s mindset, Blackstenius replied, "I wouldn't say it's changed anything. We know 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 team has experienced, noting that the experience of coming back from deficits against Real Madrid and OL Lyonnais away from home last season has infused the players with additional belief. Blackstenius also praised her striking partner, Alessia Russo, who currently leads the Champions League scoring charts with eight goals in ten matches. The duo’s partnership has flourished, producing some of the most attractive attacking football of their careers.
A key factor behind this success has been the influence of assistant coach and former England star Kelly Smith, whose expertise in developing forwards has been invaluable. "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." She continued, "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. 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." The complementary styles of Blackstenius and Russo have not only yielded goals but also forced opponents to adapt constantly, a tactical flexibility that Arsenal’s coaching staff values highly. Recognising this, the club moved quickly to secure Blackstenius on a new contract earlier this week, emphasizing the importance of retaining versatile talent. "It's a really special club in so many ways," she said.
"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.
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 for the Champions League final on May 23. Blackstenius is confident that she will play a pivotal role in guiding Arsenal to that stage, adding another chapter to her already impressive European résumé.
Beyond the pitch, Arsenal’s women’s team continues to inspire a growing fan base, with free WSL highlights and streaming options attracting new viewers worldwide. The club’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment, combined with the players’ relentless drive for success, ensures that Arsenal will remain a team to count on in any competition they enter. In summary, Stina Blackstenius epitomises the spirit of Arsenal’s women’s side: resilient, ambitious, and ever‑ready to seize the moment.
With a blend of seasoned leadership, emerging talent, and a coaching staff that maximises every player’s strengths, the Gunners are poised to defend their title and perhaps add another trophy to their illustrious cabinet. The upcoming semi‑final against OL Lyonnais will be a crucial test, but if the past two seasons are any indication, Arsenal possess the quality, depth, and belief to emerge victorious and march confidently toward a potential third‑consecutive final.