Latest news with #ArsenalWomen
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Real ‘eye Lewis-Skelly', Gunners locked in £67m Gyokeres battle, Sesko's HUGE price tag
Wright's Arteta dig Arsenal legend Ian Wright aimed a brutal dig at Mikel Arteta's side, who are set for yet another second-place finish for the third year in a row. Arsenal Women brought a massive smile to the club following an epic Champions League triumph over Barcelona. Renee Slegers' side picked up a heroic 1-0 victory over Barca thanks to Stina Blackstenius' winner on Saturday at the Jose Alvalade Stadium. And Wright sang the women's team's praises by insisting they "saved the club from embarrassment". Saved the club from the embarrassment of getting nothing this season when we played so well in the season with the men. The ladies have saved the club, we have got something to celebrate. Of course they need a parade, they have beaten Barcelona in the Champions League [final], no one gave them a chance. Even I was saying it was going to be tough because they [Barcelona] average four goals a game! So we needed to score goals to make sure that we beat them, in the end it was only one but everybody wrote them off. They deserve everything they are getting, all the accolades because this is a magnificent achievement. Look how far it's come, I remember the Champions League being at Boreham Wood, look where we are and Arsenal winning it, it's amazing! Ian WrightTNT Sports
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
From Linköping to Lisbon: retracing Blackstenius' steps to Arsenal icon status
Of the many enduring images of Arsenal's celebrations after their Women's Champions League triumph over Barcelona, one in particular emphasised the magnitude and rarity of the contribution made by their goalscorer, Stina Blackstenius. The Arsenal striker was photographed holding the trophy aloft alongside Alex Scott, the scorer of the only goal in their only previous European final 18 years earlier, and as the pair posed together, it hit home that Blackstenius had scored one of the two biggest goals in the club's history. The 29-year-old Sweden striker's name will now be immortalised in Arsenal Women folklore and, despite predominantly playing as a substitute in the past two seasons, she has developed a knack for delivering in the biggest moments, scoring the winner in the 2024 League Cup final and in the 2023 League Cup final. It might seem at odds with her Women's Super League return of just five league goals this season - she has never hit double figures in the league for Arsenal in a single campaign - but to those who have followed her career since she was in her mid-teens, her success in Lisbon was no surprise. Martin Sjögren was in charge at the Swedish top-flight club Linköping when he signed a then 16-year-old Blackstenius from Sweden's lower leagues, where she had averaged more than a goal per game, prior to their 2013 season, and he recalls: 'She was a very big talent but very, very shy. Not on the pitch, but talking to the media especially, she didn't like that and she was very shy, 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 she was scoring a lot of goals. 'She was a big talent back then [prior to signing for Linköping]. During those years she had scored so many goals in the lower leagues, so more or less everyone knew about Stina and Linköping were the closest elite team from where she played, so it was quite natural for her to join Linköping. She was very physical – for her age, she had the physique already, so 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.' Just over two-and-half years after moving to Linköping, Blackstenius would make her senior Sweden debut, and since then she has gone on to score 35 times in 115 senior internationals for Sweden. Sjögren, who is coaching Hammarby, says: 'She's always been the type of player that can create chances, score chances, more or less on her own, because of her speed, and because she can finish with both her left and her right foot. 'Still, what I saw in her years ago, I still see that today, this is what she still does, but at a much higher level. She's still the same type of player. It [Saturday's winner over Barcelona] was a nice moment especially for Stina, she's a hard worker so I really think she deserves the best.' After breaking through Linköping, Blackstenius' career would take her to the French league with Montpellier before a return to Linköping and then a 2020 switch to Hacken, who were then known as Kopparbergs/Göteborg, where she won the title in her first campaign and scored in the 2021 Swedish cup final. Soon she was a transfer target for Arsenal and the head coach who brought her to north London in 2022, Jonas Eidevall, says: 'I don't think it is a coincidence that she has scored in all three finals during her time at Arsenal. She has a really good intelligence in how to find a good position in-front of the goal.' Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Eidevall, who stepped down from his role at Arsenal last October and is now coaching the San Diego Wave, who are second in the NWSL, says: 'Stina had proved so many times with the Swedish national team that she is a player for the big games, scoring deciding goals in knock-out matches. 'I think she has improved her technical level dramatically since she arrived at Arsenal, which also means that she's a much more well-rounded forward who can finish in more ways and operate both behind and in front of the back line.' Speaking after the final whistle in Lisbon, Blackstenius insisted on praising the 'team performance' rather than wanting to talk about herself, and told TNT Sports: 'I just can't believe it, all of it. I just can't believe we won the Champions League and we get to celebrate.' Even in that, proudest of moments, she still came across a little shy in a live post-match interview, but in front of goal, she is fearless.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
From Linköping to Lisbon: retracing Blackstenius' steps to Arsenal icon status
Of the many enduring images of Arsenal's celebrations after their Women's Champions League triumph over Barcelona, one in particular emphasised the magnitude and rarity of the contribution made by their goalscorer, Stina Blackstenius. The Arsenal striker was photographed holding the trophy aloft alongside Alex Scott, the scorer of the only goal in their only previous European final 18 years earlier, and as the pair posed together, it hit home that Blackstenius had scored one of the two biggest goals in the club's history. The 29-year-old Sweden striker's name will now be immortalised in Arsenal Women folklore and, despite predominantly playing as a substitute in the past two seasons, she has developed a knack for delivering in the biggest moments, scoring the winner in the 2024 League Cup final and in the 2023 League Cup final. Advertisement Related: Mary Earps made indelible mark with England and leaves big gloves to fill | Suzanne Wrack It might seem at odds with her Women's Super League return of just five league goals this season - she has never hit double figures in the league for Arsenal in a single campaign - but to those who have followed her career since she was in her mid-teens, her success in Lisbon was no surprise. Martin Sjögren was in charge at the Swedish top-flight club Linköping when he signed a then 16-year-old Blackstenius from Sweden's lower leagues, where she had averaged more than a goal per game, prior to their 2013 season, and he recalls: 'She was a very big talent but very, very shy. Not on the pitch, but talking to the media especially, she didn't like that and she was very shy, 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 she was scoring a lot of goals. 'She was a big talent back then [prior to signing for Linköping]. During those years she had scored so many goals in the lower leagues, so more or less everyone knew about Stina and Linköping were the closest elite team from where she played, so it was quite natural for her to join Linköping. She was very physical – for her age, she had the physique already, so 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.' Just over two-and-half years after moving to Linköping, Blackstenius would make her senior Sweden debut, and since then she has gone on to score 35 times in 115 senior internationals for Sweden. Sjögren, who is coaching Hammarby, says: 'She's always been the type of player that can create chances, score chances, more or less on her own, because of her speed, and because she can finish with both her left and her right foot. Advertisement 'Still, what I saw in her years ago, I still see that today, this is what she still does, but at a much higher level. She's still the same type of player. It [Saturday's winner over Barcelona] was a nice moment especially for Stina, she's a hard worker so I really think she deserves the best.' After breaking through Linköping, Blackstenius' career would take her to the French league with Montpellier before a return to Linköping and then a 2020 switch to Hacken, who were then known as Kopparbergs/Göteborg, where she won the title in her first campaign and scored in the 2021 Swedish cup final. Soon she was a transfer target for Arsenal and the head coach who brought her to north London in 2022, Jonas Eidevall, says: 'I don't think it is a coincidence that she has scored in all three finals during her time at Arsenal. 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, who are second in the NWSL, says: 'Stina had proved so many times with the Swedish national team that she is a player for the big games, scoring deciding goals in knock-out matches. 'I think she has improved her technical level dramatically since she arrived at Arsenal, which also means that she's a much more well-rounded forward who can finish in more ways and operate both behind and in front of the back line.' Speaking after the final whistle in Lisbon, Blackstenius insisted on praising the 'team performance' rather than wanting to talk about herself, and told TNT Sports: 'I just can't believe it, all of it. I just can't believe we won the Champions League and we get to celebrate.' Even in that, proudest of moments, she still came across a little shy in a live post-match interview, but in front of goal, she is fearless.
Powys County Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Leah Williamson ‘lived a dream' after lifting Champions League with Arsenal
England captain Leah Williamson says she's 'lived a dream' after lifting the Women's Champions League trophy with Arsenal in Lisbon. The newly-crowned champions celebrated their 1-0 final triumph over Barcelona in front of thousands in Armoury Square, outside the Emirates Stadium in London, in a ceremony hosted by Alex Scott – the former Gunner whose goal made the difference when they lifted the same trophy in 2007. That remained the only time an English women's side had won the Champions League until Saturday night in Portugal, where the Spanish holders could not find a reply to Stina Blackstenius' 74th-minute strike. 'I had some tears on the plane the day before, the hotel, just some messages and people talking to me,' Williamson told reporters. Just two childhood Gooners living the dream 🥰 — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) May 26, 2025 'I always said, 'trophy for England over the trophy for Arsenal' because I just think you don't pick your country, it's a bit more of a fate thing, a bit more luck needs to be involved. 'But I feel ashamed now because that feeling yesterday was, I think right now, the happiest I've ever been in my whole entire life and I hope that other Arsenal fans are because I know I lived a dream, I never take it for granted.' Williamson, who captained England to their first major silverware at the 2022 home Euros, joined Arsenal's academy aged nine, and has spent her entire senior career at the club after she was promoted to the first team in 2014. She added: 'I think professionally a lot of people would say that you should move (clubs) and you should test yourself in different environments and I've probably made it harder for myself staying in the same place and trying to get more out of myself every year. It's so hard. 'The environment doesn't necessarily change and with the same faces, same people, I'm comfortable in that sense. 'And then you get a day like Saturday and this is why, because winning a Champions League final for Arsenal, it just wouldn't mean the same anywhere else as it would here. My dreams came true.' Fans began to gather early on Monday ahead of a 10:30 start to the festivities, which included a trophy lift, speeches from a selection of players and head coach Renee Slegers, a DJ, a dancing Gunnersaurus and even a cameo by Arsenal 'club dog' Win, the chocolate Labrador brought in by men's boss Mikel Arteta to help develop the 'family atmosphere' at the club. Dutchwoman Slegers, who spent a year in the club's youth team between 2006 and 2007 before becoming assistant coach in 2023, was appointed on a permanent basis in January after serving as interim head coach following Jonas Eidevall's departure in October. Arsenal and Australia defender Steph Catley said: 'I think she's just brought belief to every individual and to us as a squad. I think if you look at our squad, we're so, so talented, we've got everything there we need to beat anyone in the world.'
The Herald Scotland
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Leah Williamson ‘lived a dream' after lifting Champions League with Arsenal
That remained the only time an English women's side had won the Champions League until Saturday night in Portugal, where the Spanish holders could not find a reply to Stina Blackstenius' 74th-minute strike. 'I had some tears on the plane the day before, the hotel, just some messages and people talking to me,' Williamson told reporters. Just two childhood Gooners living the dream 🥰 — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) May 26, 2025 'I always said, 'trophy for England over the trophy for Arsenal' because I just think you don't pick your country, it's a bit more of a fate thing, a bit more luck needs to be involved. 'But I feel ashamed now because that feeling yesterday was, I think right now, the happiest I've ever been in my whole entire life and I hope that other Arsenal fans are because I know I lived a dream, I never take it for granted.' Williamson, who captained England to their first major silverware at the 2022 home Euros, joined Arsenal's academy aged nine, and has spent her entire senior career at the club after she was promoted to the first team in 2014. She added: 'I think professionally a lot of people would say that you should move (clubs) and you should test yourself in different environments and I've probably made it harder for myself staying in the same place and trying to get more out of myself every year. It's so hard. 'The environment doesn't necessarily change and with the same faces, same people, I'm comfortable in that sense. Arsenal's players celebrate their Champions League success (Adam Davy/PA) 'And then you get a day like Saturday and this is why, because winning a Champions League final for Arsenal, it just wouldn't mean the same anywhere else as it would here. My dreams came true.' Fans began to gather early on Monday ahead of a 10:30 start to the festivities, which included a trophy lift, speeches from a selection of players and head coach Renee Slegers, a DJ, a dancing Gunnersaurus and even a cameo by Arsenal 'club dog' Win, the chocolate Labrador brought in by men's boss Mikel Arteta to help develop the 'family atmosphere' at the club. Dutchwoman Slegers, who spent a year in the club's youth team between 2006 and 2007 before becoming assistant coach in 2023, was appointed on a permanent basis in January after serving as interim head coach following Jonas Eidevall's departure in October. Arsenal and Australia defender Steph Catley said: 'I think she's just brought belief to every individual and to us as a squad. I think if you look at our squad, we're so, so talented, we've got everything there we need to beat anyone in the world.'
