Arsenal's women's side are once again finding themselves in familiar territory, and the atmosphere around the club feels like a déjà vu. Both the senior men's and women's squads have reached the Champions League semi‑final stage, and for the second year running the Gunners' women are set to meet Olympique Lyonnais in the final four. The stakes are high, the memories fresh, and the ambition to repeat last season's triumph is palpable. Last spring, Arsenal lifted the trophy after a dramatic victory over Barcelona in Lisbon, a match that was decided by the clinical finishing of forward Stina Blackstenius.
Blackstenius has built a reputation for delivering decisive goals when the pressure is at its peak. In fact, she has featured in four finals for Arsenal and found the back of the net in three of those occasions, a record that underscores her knack for rising to the occasion. Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports ahead of the first leg of the semi‑final at the Emirates, Blackstenius expressed her love for winning with the club: "I really love to win with this team. I would do anything for that to happen," she said.
She added that, as a striker, there is something uniquely thrilling about scoring in the biggest games: "As a striker, you always want to score goals and in these big games, there's something special about it." Under the guidance of manager Rèneé Slegers, Arsenal have cultivated an impressive home record that fuels confidence even after a narrow first‑leg loss last season. That defeat, however, became a catalyst for an unforgettable comeback against the eight‑time European champions on French soil, a narrative that defined Arsenal's underdog spirit throughout the campaign. This season, the narrative has shifted: Arsenal are now the team that others fear. When asked whether being the defending champions has altered the team's mindset, Blackstenius was measured: "I wouldn't say it's changed anything [being the Champions League holders].
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 continued, emphasizing the relentless work ethic that drives the squad: "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. We have grown so much from what we achieved last season. We didn't always get the best result last year, we came back against Real Madrid and OL Lyonnais away as well, so that gave us a lot of confidence.
When we play our best football, we're always a team to count on." Arsenal's attacking firepower this season is highlighted by Alessia Russo, who currently tops the Champions League scoring charts with eight goals in ten matches. The partnership between Blackstenius and Russo has been a revelation, with both players delivering some of the finest football of their careers. A significant factor in their development has been the work of assistant coach and former England star Kelly Smith, whose experience as a prolific striker adds a valuable dimension to the forwards' training. "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 highlighted the complementary nature of her game and Russo's: "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, "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, noting, "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 club's desire to retain Blackstenius was evident when Arsenal announced a new contract for her earlier this week. The management sees her versatility and experience as vital assets, especially as the squad looks to add more options to an already deep roster.
Reflecting on her time at the club, Blackstenius said, "It's a really special club in so many ways. 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, Arsenal could soon be traveling to Oslo for the Champions League final on May 23. If history is any guide, Blackstenius will be a central figure in the Gunners' quest for another European crown.
Her knack for delivering in crucial moments, combined with the team's collective belief and tactical flexibility, makes Arsenal a formidable opponent for any side, including the ever‑dangerous OL Lyonnais. The upcoming matches promise high‑octane football, strategic battles, and the chance for Arsenal to cement their status as a modern powerhouse in women's football. Fans can expect a blend of experienced leadership, youthful exuberance, and tactical ingenuity as the Gunners aim to add another chapter to their growing legacy.