Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius says that it is really important the that club win trophies on a regular basis.
The Gunners realistically have one remaining opportunity to end the current season with a trophy; they face Chelsea in the 2023/2024 FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup final at Molineux this afternoon.
Ahead of the showpiece, WSL Full-Time spoke with Arsenal forward Blackstenius. She said that it is really important that the club are seen to be winning trophies season-on-season.
“It is really important [to win trophies every season],” Blackstenius said. “As a team and as a club, that’s where we want to be, we want to compete for trophies, be a top team and win as much as possible.
“We have the opportunity to do that now. It’s really important for us because that’s where we want to be as a team and as a club, competing for trophies.”
Blackstenius has arguably been the star performer in this season’s FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup. She has netted eight goals in five competition matches, including two hat-tricks. The player admits that it has been good to contribute towards Arsenal’s success in the competition so far.
She said “It’s been really important for me to play in these games, especially for my confidence and to feel like I can give something to this team. Scoring goals, it feels like I am contributing something to the team.”
Arsenal arguably go into this afternoon’s final as underdogs, just as they did 12 months ago when they overcame the same opponents in the same competition to lift their first trophy in four years. Blackstenius isn’t paying too much attention to whether The Gunners are fancied to prevail again.
“I haven’t really thought about that, I’m just looking at it as an opportunity for us to win a trophy,” she said.
“We know what it is like to play against Chelsea, it’s always really competitive, they’re always good games that we get to play. Knowing that you are playing for a trophy always gives you something extra.”
Arsenal fans are expected to outnumber Chelsea fans at Molineux this afternoon and Blackstenius believes that the team will really need their support if they are to be successful.
She said “It’s always huge for us playing in front of big crowds and knowing that we have the support from the fans. Their support has been so good this season, they’ve given us so much so far and I’m sure that they’ll support us in this game as well.
“No matter if we’ve been playing at Meadow Park or the Emirates, we have always felt their support. We really appreciate the support that we will get for this game, I feel like we need it more than ever.”
The 2023/2024 FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup final kicks-off at 3pm this afternoon. Tickets remain available and can be purchased by clicking here.