Arsenal Women’s Player Ratings vs Liverpool: Stina Blackstenius Saves the Day

Arsenal Women’s Player Ratings vs Liverpool: Stina Blackstenius Saves the Day as Swedish Forward Makes Amends for Horror Miss

It was one of those afternoons at the Emirates where tension clung to the air for far longer than supporters would have liked. Arsenal, uninspiring for large parts of the contest, eventually squeezed past Liverpool with a nervy 2-1 win — and they owe it largely to Stina Blackstenius. The Swedish international went from frustration to redemption within minutes, rescuing a side that never quite found its rhythm and, frankly, rode their luck.

Nearly 35,000 spectators were made to sweat. Despite facing the league’s bottom side, Arsenal produced a performance full of hesitancy, slow build-up play and wastefulness. Liverpool, meanwhile, were disciplined, organised, and remarkably threatening on every counter. Arsenal’s relief at full-time said everything; this was three points taken rather than earned.

But the story began with one star making her presence felt early…

Olivia Smith Shines Against Former Club

All week, the narrative centred around Canada international Olivia Smith facing her former employers. And 16 minutes into the match, she delivered the storyline everyone expected. After wriggling past three Liverpool defenders, Smith unleashed a stunning 25-yard strike that screamed into the top corner — a moment of individual brilliance entirely mismatched with Arsenal’s general sluggishness.

It should have been a foundation, a cue to push on, dominate possession and kill the contest early. Instead, Arsenal slipped into familiar habits: hesitant in possession, reactive rather than proactive, and constantly second-best to loose balls.

Liverpool sensed vulnerability and capitalised.

A sequence of defensive uncertainty allowed Beata Olsson to stroll into space and level the match after half an hour. It was far too soft from Arsenal, especially given the game state. The Swede, in prolific form since arriving in England, caused problems until she visibly tired in the second half.

From that point onward, anxiety hovered.

Wastefulness in Attack Becomes a Theme

Arsenal repeatedly generated good moments around the edge of Liverpool’s box. Yet their lack of ruthlessness almost cost them. Alessia Russo worked tirelessly—often posting up her defender, waiting for support—yet her finishing was erratic, lacking conviction. Beth Mead produced dangerous deliveries, but the end product from teammates was missing.

There were flashes of familiar quality, but very little consistency.

That was until Blackstenius arrived.

The Swedish striker initially endured frustration of her own, flagged offside several times and failing to finish a golden 1v1 moment after Gemma Evans produced a heroic block. That moment felt like a metaphor for the game: promising situations repeatedly wasted.

And then, suddenly, the decisive moment arrived.

Three minutes from time, Blackstenius drove through on the left, sized up the target, and belted a rasping finish high into the roof of the net. The Emirates sparked into life. Liverpool collapsed to the turf. Arsenal walked away relieved.

Player Ratings

Goalkeeper & Defence

Arsenal v Liverpool – Barclays Women’s Super League

Anneke Borbe (4/10)
A difficult debut. Borbe’s positioning felt uncertain, and she reacted late to Olsson’s equaliser, failing to get enough behind the effort. Not disastrous, but far from authoritative — a shaky start that may affect immediate selection.

Emily Fox (5/10)
Got into advanced areas and showed good intent, yet her decision-making faltered when precision was most needed. Felt slightly rushed in possession and was limited defensively.

Lotte Wubben-Moy (6/10)
Her afternoon will be replayed via the chance she somehow headed onto the post from two yards out. Otherwise improved as the game grew chaotic, winning key duels and organising late.

Steph Catley (5/10)
Caught wrong-side far too often and punished by Enderby’s movement. A senior player, yet her positioning wavered, allowing Liverpool space they shouldn’t have had.

Taylor Hinds (6/10)
Solid if unspectacular. Delivered dangerous balls into the box against her former club, defended diligently and left the field somewhat harshly given her contribution.

Midfield

Arsenal v Liverpool – Barclays Women’s Super League

Frida Maanum (5/10)
A quiet afternoon. Couldn’t stamp control on the game, nor influence transitions. Withdrawn early and understandably so.

Mariona Caldentey (6/10)
Elegant touches, clever angles and smart final balls — all present. Unfortunately, so too were sloppy giveaways and erratic passing. Promising but inconsistent.

Kyra Cooney-Cross (5/10)
Not her cleanest outing. Lost track of markers during Liverpool’s goal and didn’t assert herself physically. Decision-making lacked sharpness.

Attack

Arsenal v Liverpool – Barclays Women’s Super League

Beth Mead (5/10)
Delivery? Excellent. Final impact? Minimal. Struggled to accelerate play or stretch Liverpool’s back line.

Alessia Russo (5/10)
Worked hard, posted well with her back to goal, but finishing deserted her. Needed one moment of conviction — didn’t arrive.

Olivia Smith (7/10)
Brilliant opening goal, sharp movement and confident dribbling. Momentum faded after half-time, yet her quality lit the match.

Subs & Manager

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal – Barclays Women’s Super League

Caitlin Foord (4/10)
Provided early spark but squandered a huge second-half opportunity and lost possession cheaply.

Katie McCabe (6/10)
Steady influence. Defensively alert as Arsenal regained control.

Stina Blackstenius (7/10)
Offside too often, indecisive at one key moment, and then — emphatically — match-winner. Her finish was elite.

Kim Little (6/10)
Professional cameo. Stabilised the tempo when composure was desperately required.

Laia Codina (N/A)
Not enough minutes to assess.

Renee Slegers (6/10)
Her changes shifted the match. Arsenal were flat, and adjustments mattered. Yet the bigger concern remains: long periods of drift, wastefulness, and failure to put teams away.

Final Verdict

Arsenal will embrace the three points, but not much else will be envied from this outing. A top-end side should not labour past the league’s bottom club in such fashion. Too much hesitancy, too many wasted openings, too many defensive lapses.

And yet, sport rarely honours aesthetics — only outcomes.

Arsenal now sit third, momentum inching rather than surging forward. Liverpool remain rooted to the foot of the table, admirable but ultimately undone.

Blackstenius saved the day, and on afternoons like this, one swing of a boot makes all the difference.