Arsenal tie Stina Blackstenius down to new contract after parting ways with Vivianne Miedema as Jonas Eidevall explains why 'clever' centre-forward is so important to WSL giants

The Gunners offered a fresh deal to Blackstenius, whose initial contract was set to expire at the end of the season, with the forward having initially moved to north London in January 2022. With 43 goals in 83 appearances, she has established herself as a reliable and prolific scorer for the Gunners. She found the net in both of their League Cup final victories against Chelsea which has further endeared her to the fans.

The extension of Blackstenius’ contract comes just a week after Arsenal’s decision to let Miedema leave the club. Initially replaced in the centre-forward position by Blackstenius in the 2021-22 season, Miedema had to settle for a midfield role. However, her playing time became increasingly limited following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during the 2022-23 campaign and the signing of Alessia Russo last summer.

“I’m so happy to have signed a new contract here at Arsenal,” Blackstenius said. “In the space of two-and-a-half years, this club has come to feel like home — that’s thanks to my team-mates 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 also shared his satisfaction with the new deal, emphasising Blackstenius’ overall contribution to the team. “Stina is a top-class striker and I’m delighted that she has signed a new deal with us," he said. "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."

Looking ahead, the contract extension is expected to bring stability and focus to Arsenal’s attacking strategy. With Blackstenius committed to the club, Eidevall can continue to build a formidable and effective offensive unit as they look to challenge for multiple honours in the 2024-25 season.