Stina Blackstenius renews Arsenal contract ahead of Sweden's clash with Ireland

SOS! Swede's Super Trouper Stina Blackstenius strikes a new contract with The Gunners ahead of Sweden's Euro 2025 qualifier against Ireland's WNT at the Aviva Stadium.

If a happy player is a dangerous one, the threat that Stina Blackstenius now poses to Eileen Gleeson's girls in green has just ramped up to ‘Swedish House Mafia’ level.

Future secured with Women’s Super League giants Arsenal, the pacy forward can now focus solely on her international duties - the first of a doubleheader against Ireland kicking off on May 31st in Dublin, when Sweden travels to the Emerald Isle for what will be both sides' third group fixture to date.

Irish fans who follow the WSL closely across the water will know all too well how Stina Blackstenius can ‘Take a Chance’.

The 28-year-old has scored 43 goals across 83 appearances for Arsenal since she departed from Gothenburg's BK Häcken in January 2022.

A big game player, Blackstenius can be relied upon to take a game by the scruff of the neck.

On numerous occasions, the Vadstena native has bounced off Jonas Eidevall's bench and saved his skin - her power, strength and skill netting 18 goals across all competitions in both the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

The super sub scored an extra-time winner in the 2024 FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup Final to swipe silverware from Chelsea manager Emma Hayes’s back pocket and secure Eidevall a new contract in the process.

Throughout 2023 (a season that left Arsenal bereft with ACL injuries), Blackstenius showed her mettle, hitting the back of the net at a sold-out Emirates in what was a closely contested Champions League semi-final against Wolfsburg.

With European interest high, Peter Gerhardsson’s number 11 was not short of options at the tail end of 2021 and Blackstenius can be deemed unlucky not to have played a larger part in Arsenal's starting eleven this season.

The forward's drop in game time is no reflection of her value but is due in large part to the summer arrival of Alessia Russo from Manchester United, who has occupied the number 9 role that Blackstenius prefers.

The Swede has punctured the back of the net thirty-one times in her international career for the women in blue and yellow, winning two Olympic silver medals and one bronze from the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup campaign with her national side.

A new deal should serve to provide clarity ahead of the 2024-25 season and sets Blackstenius up nicely for Sweden's doubleheader against Ireland.

Mamma Mia.

“I’m so happy to have signed a new contract here at Arsenal,” said Stina on speaking to Arsenal.com. “In the space of two and a half years, this club has come to feel like home – that’s thanks to my teammates and the staff, of course, but most of all because of our wonderful supporters.

"There is such a special atmosphere around this club and we are all hungry to achieve more together. Your support means the world to me and I can’t wait to get back here to go again next season.”

Head Coach Jonas Eidevall added: “Stina is a top-class striker and I’m delighted that she has signed a new deal with us. Her goalscoring naturally takes a lot of the focus, but Stina’s game is so much more than that. She’s incredibly hard-working and brings so much to the team with her clever running and physicality. I know she’ll continue to be a huge part of what we’re building here at the club.”

Director of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley said: “We’re very happy to have agreed on a new contract with Stina, who has made a hugely important contribution to the club since joining us back in 2022. Stina is an integral part of our team and consistently rises to the occasion in the most important games. I’m sure our supporters will join me in congratulating Stina and wishing her continued success here in North London.”