A feeling of déjà vu hangs over Arsenal at the moment. Not only have both the men’s and women’s squads reached the Champions League semi‑final stage, but the women’s side are set to meet Olympique Lyonnais once again in the final four for a second straight year. The Gunners are chasing consecutive titles after their dramatic victory over Barcelona in Lisbon last season, a match that was decided by the decisive strike of forward Stina Blackstenius.
Blackstenius has built a reputation for delivering when the stakes are highest; she has featured in four finals with Arsenal and found the net in three of those occasions, a record that underscores her knack for big‑game moments. "I love winning with this club and I would move mountains to make that happen," she told Sky Sports ahead of Sunday’s first‑leg semi‑final at the Emirates. "As a striker, you always want to score, and in games of this magnitude there’s something extra that drives you." Arsenal’s impressive home form under manager Renee Slegers has given the squad a solid belief heading into the tie, even though they suffered a first‑leg defeat last year before mounting a comeback against the eight‑time European champions on French soil. That turnaround defined Arsenal’s recent campaign – a story of underdogs who never accepted defeat.
This time, however, the narrative has shifted: they are now the team that other clubs fear. When asked whether holding the Champions League crown had altered the team’s mindset, Blackstenius replied, "It hasn’t changed anything fundamentally.
We know we can win, and if we did it once, we can certainly do it again. The confidence we have is rooted in the work we put in every day, not in the pressure of being defending champions." She continued, "We still push ourselves hard because our goal is simple – we want to be in the final. That’s the only target we set. We have grown enormously since last season.
Even when we didn’t get the perfect result, we showed resilience by turning around games against Real Madrid and Lyon away, which gave us a massive boost of confidence. When we play our best football, Arsenal is always a team to be reckoned with." Arsenal’s attacking partnership has been bolstered by Alessia Russo, who currently tops the Champions League scoring chart with eight goals in ten matches. The duo has clicked beautifully, delivering some of the most fluid and incisive football of their careers, a development that owes much to the guidance of assistant coach and former England striker Kelly Smith. "Kelly has been instrumental in shaping our forward play.
We spend a lot of time in training fine‑tuning our link‑up, and it pays off on the pitch," Blackstenius explained. She highlighted the complementary nature of their styles: "I’m a player who likes to make deep runs, stretch the defence and create space for myself and my teammates. That’s my role and I embrace it fully.
Alessia, on the other hand, is superb with the ball at her feet and excels at setting up chances. Together we make it difficult for any defensive line to contain us." Their differing strengths were a key factor behind Arsenal’s decision to offer Blackstenius a new contract earlier this week. More options in attack are always a positive for a side that thrives on tactical flexibility.
"Arsenal is a special club in countless ways," Blackstenius said. "Since I arrived four and a half years ago, the club has evolved dramatically.
The league is exciting, the supporters are passionate, and the environment feels like home. We are determined to chase every piece of silverware available, and I can see the club continuing to grow and push forward." Looking ahead, the Gunners could soon be traveling to Oslo, where the Champions League final is scheduled for 23 May.
Given her track record, it would not be surprising to see Blackstenius playing a pivotal role in guiding Arsenal to that stage. Beyond the pitch, the excitement surrounding women’s football continues to rise, with free highlights and streaming options making the sport more accessible than ever. As Arsenal prepares for the semi‑final showdown, the blend of experience, ambition, and tactical nuance positions them as a genuine contender for European glory once again.
In summary, Arsenal’s women’s team enters this season’s Champions League with a blend of confidence born from past triumphs and a hunger to prove that their success was no fluke. With Blackstenius leading the line, Russo delivering goals, and a supportive coaching staff, the Gunners are poised to write another chapter in their storied European journey.