Stina Blackstenius Leads Arsenal Women to League Cup Final with Dominant Win over Aston Villa

Stina Blackstenius‘ first-half hat-trick propelled Arsenal Women to a commanding 4-0 victory over Aston Villa Women, securing their spot in the FA Women's League Cup final.

Blackstenius opened the scoring just nine minutes into the game, firing a precise shot past Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, Anna Leat, after being set up by a well-executed through ball from Frida Maanum.

The Sweden striker doubled her tally just two minutes later, tapping in a cross from Beth Mead following an initial effort from Alessia Russo.

Maanum then showcased her skill by curling a stunning shot into the top corner from the edge of the box, extending Arsenal’s lead to three goals in the 18th minute.

Blackstenius completed her hat-trick before halftime, capitalizing on a loose ball in the box to give Arsenal a formidable advantage going into the break.

Despite a more resilient second-half performance from Villa, Arsenal’s dominance was evident throughout the match, with their attacking prowess and defensive solidity on full display.

Carla Ward, the Villa manager, expressed disappointment with her team’s first-half display, acknowledging Arsenal’s relentless attacking approach.

Arsenal’s relentless wing play, orchestrated by players like Katie McCabe, stretched Villa’s defense and created ample opportunities for Blackstenius and Maanum to capitalize on.

With this convincing victory, Arsenal set up a final clash against the winner of the second semi-final, scheduled to take place at Molineux on Sunday, 31 March.