There is a palpable feeling 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 set to meet Olympique Lyonnais once again in the final four, marking a second consecutive year of this high‑profile clash.
The Gunners are chasing back‑to‑back European crowns after their dramatic victory over Barcelona in Lisbon last season, a win that was sealed by none other than Stina Blackstenius. The Swedish striker has built a reputation for delivering decisive goals when the stakes are highest. In fact, she has featured in every final she has contested while wearing the Arsenal badge, finding the net in three out of the four matches and helping the team to lift the trophy each time. "I love winning with this squad.
I would give anything to see us succeed," Blackstenius told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview ahead of the first‑leg semi‑final at the Emirates. "As a forward, you always want to score, but in games of this magnitude there’s an extra thrill that you just can’t describe." Under the guidance of head coach Renee Slegers, Arsenal have cultivated an impressive home record, which fuels their confidence despite the disappointment of losing the first leg of last year’s semi‑final.
That defeat, however, sparked a remarkable comeback in France, where the Gunners overturned the deficit to defeat the eight‑time European champions. It epitomised the narrative of Arsenal’s recent campaign: a group of underdogs who refuse to accept defeat and keep fighting until the final whistle. This time, though, the team enters the competition as one of the clear favorites, with opponents now targeting them as the side to beat.
"Being the defending champions hasn’t changed our mindset," Blackstenius explained. "We know we can do it again because we’ve already proved it.
The confidence in this group is huge, but I don’t feel any extra pressure compared with last season. We still work hard every day, and our sole aim is to reach the final." She added that the experience gained over the past year has been invaluable. "We grew a lot after last season’s achievements.
Even when we didn’t get the best result, we managed to turn things around against Real Madrid and Lyon away from home, which gave us a massive boost in belief. When we play our best football, we are always a team to be reckoned with." Arsenal’s attacking partnership has also flourished. Alessia Russo, Blackstenius’s teammate, currently tops the Champions League scoring charts with eight goals in ten matches. The duo’s chemistry has been a cornerstone of Arsenal’s offensive play, a development that owes much to the influence of assistant coach and former England striker Kelly Smith.
"Kelly has been instrumental in shaping us forwards. We spend a lot of time in training fine‑tuning our link‑up play, and it shows on the pitch," Blackstenius said. She highlighted the complementary nature of her relationship with Russo: "We are different players, which gives the team a variety of options.
I like to make deep runs, stretch the defence, and create space for myself and my teammates. Alessia, on the other hand, is superb with the ball and excels at setting up chances.
Together we make it difficult for any defensive line to cope." The synergy between the two forwards was a key factor behind Arsenal’s decision to offer Blackstenius a new contract earlier this week. "Having more options is always a positive for the squad," she noted. "It gives us flexibility and depth, which are essential in a competition as demanding as the Champions League." Reflecting on her four‑and‑a‑half‑year tenure at the club, Blackstenius described Arsenal as a special environment. "Since I joined, so much has happened.
The league is exciting, the supporters are fantastic, and the camaraderie among the players and staff feels like home. We are constantly striving for silverware and aiming to compete in every tournament we enter.
The club is growing, and you can see the direction we’re heading." Looking ahead, Arsenal’s next destination could be Oslo, where the Champions League final is scheduled for 23 May. Blackstenius is confident that she will play a pivotal role in helping the Gunners secure that spot. "We have the talent and the belief to go all the way, and I intend to give everything I have to make that happen," she affirmed. In summary, Arsenal’s women’s side enter this season’s Champions League with a blend of experience, confidence, and a potent attacking duo that can unlock any defence.
With Blackstenius leading the charge and Russo providing the creative spark, the Gunners are poised to defend their title and add another chapter to their growing legacy in European football.