2026-04-26 09:31:34

Stina Blackstenius feared her goal in last year’s Women’s Champions League final was offside.

The Swedish forward scored a late winner as the Gunners beat Barcelona 1-0 in the Lisbon showpiece to become European champions last season but was worried that the goal could be struck off.

Asked about the winning goal, Blackstenius told Arsenal’s website: “It meant so much to me. Beth (Mead) saw the opportunity to play me in and it must have taken only a millisecond for her to see my run and then make that decision, but that’s such a strength of her game. Beth is so good in those situations.

“At first I was a bit scared that they were going to call it offside because I wasn’t 100 per cent sure! But when the goal was officially given, it was just pure happiness. I was just so happy.”

Blackstenius confessed that she felt “nervous” before the game but also had a “good feeling” that Arsenal could defy the odds against their Spanish opponents.

She said: “The Champions League final was, for sure, one of the biggest matches I’ve ever played. Beforehand, I was obviously a little nervous because that game meant so much and there was nothing I wanted more than for us to win.

“But I also had such a good feeling – I think we all did! It was also very important for me to win the Champions League with Arsenal. Now we’ve achieved it, it’s something I will always bring with me.”

Arsenal take on Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Sunday (26.04.26) and Blackstenius is “hungry” to keep the trophy at the Emirates Stadium.

She said: “Ever since the day we won the Champions League I’ve just felt like it’s something I want to do again. I think it made me even hungrier, because now I actually know what it feels like to win.

“Before winning, I had no idea how happy you can be in a moment like that and how much it means for us as players, for the supporters, for the staff, for everyone in the club. It’s something incredibly special.

“So now, we will work really hard as a group to make it happen again because everyone keeps dreaming about doing it one more time.”

Visit Bang Premier (main website)