Stina Blackstenius: The Unlikely Hero of Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League Triumph
In a moment that will be etched in the memories of Arsenal fans for years to come, Stina Blackstenius scored the winning goal in the Women’s Champions League final against Barcelona, securing the club’s first European title. The 29-year-old Sweden striker’s name is now immortalised in Arsenal Women folklore, and her success in Lisbon was no surprise to those who have followed her career.
According to The Guardian, Blackstenius’s contribution to Arsenal’s triumph was hailed as one of the biggest moments in the club’s history. As the team celebrated their victory, Blackstenius was photographed holding the trophy aloft alongside Alex Scott, scorer of the only goal in their previous European final 18 years earlier. This poignant image highlighted the magnitude and rarity of Blackstenius’s achievement.
Despite predominantly playing as a substitute in the past two seasons, Blackstenius has developed a knack for producing in the biggest moments. She scored the winner in the 2024 League Cup final and in the 2023 League Cup final, demonstrating her ability to rise to the occasion when it matters most. As The Guardian reports, Blackstenius’s Women’s Super League return of five league goals this season may seem modest, but her success in Lisbon was no surprise to those who have followed her career.
Martin Sjögren, who signed Blackstenius from Sweden’s lower leagues to play for Linköping in 2013, believes that her success was always on the cards. “She was a very big talent, but very, very shy,” he says. “Not on the pitch, but talking to the media especially, she didn’t like that. But that was off the pitch; on the pitch, she played with the same characteristics as she has now, she had a lot of speed, a lot of physicality and was scoring a lot of goals.”
Sjögren, who now coaches Hammarby, adds that Blackstenius’s physicality and speed have always been key components of her game. “She was very physical for her age, she had the physique. That’s always been important for Stina, to be able to run, to tackle, to work hard. You can still see that in her, it’s a big part of her game.”
The Guardian reports that Blackstenius made her senior Sweden debut just over two-and-a-half years after moving to Linköping, and has since scored 35 times in 115 appearances. Her ability to create chances and score goals on her own has been a hallmark of her career, and one that has served her well in the biggest games.
Arsenal’s head coach, Jonas Eidevall, who brought Blackstenius to north London in 2022, believes that her intelligence in front of goal has been key to her success. “I don’t think it is a coincidence that she has scored in all three finals,” he says. “She has a really good intelligence in how to find a good position in-front of the goal.”
Eidevall, who stepped down from his role at Arsenal last October and is now coaching the San Diego Wave, adds that Blackstenius has improved dramatically since arriving at Arsenal. “Stina had proved so many times with the Swedish national team that she is a player for the big games, scoring deciding goals in knockout matches,” he says.
After the final whistle in Lisbon, Blackstenius insisted on praising the team performance rather than wanting to talk about herself. “I just can’t believe it, all of it,” she told TNT Sports. “I just can’t believe we won the Champions League and we get to celebrate.” Even in that proudest of moments, Blackstenius came across as a little shy, but in front of goal, she is fearless.
As The Guardian notes, Blackstenius’s journey to the top has been a long and winding one, taking her from Sweden’s lower leagues to the top-flight French league with Montpellier, before returning to Linköping and then moving to Hacken in 2020. Her success with Arsenal is a testament to her hard work and dedication, and she will undoubtedly be a key player for the club in the years to come.
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