Stina Blackstenius missed Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Barcelona due to a heel injury, as DN Direkt reported.
The UEFA Women’s Champions League group fixture at the Camp Nou ended in a 1–1 draw on Thursday evening, following goals from Norway internationals Frida Maanum and Caroline Graham Hansen. The result leaves Barcelona second and Arsenal fourth in the league phase standings, with both clubs occupying quarter-final qualification places.
Blackstenius was unavailable for selection after picking up a heel problem that also kept her out of Arsenal’s recent league fixture against Liverpool. She did not travel with the squad to Spain, leaving manager Jonas Eidevall without his frontline Swedish international.
The forward’s ongoing absence comes ahead of a crucial international window. Next Wednesday, Sweden women’s national team head coach Tony Gustavsson is scheduled to name his squad for two decisive World Cup qualifiers against Scotland early in December.
Arsenal opened the scoring in the 22nd minute through midfielder Frida Maanum, according to coverage by Aftonbladet. Barcelona equalized shortly before the hour mark when forward Caroline Graham Hansen curled a long-range strike past the visiting defense.
For Barcelona, the stalemate marked their first dropped points of the European campaign following three consecutive victories. Arsenal remains undefeated in the tournament phase with two wins and two draws. Defender Smilla Holmberg was named among the substitutes for Arsenal but remained on the bench for the duration of the match, as FotbollDirekt reported.
Following Thursday’s results across the continent, the top of the group table features Barcelona in second place and Arsenal immediately behind in fourth. Both clubs hold positions that secure automatic progression to the quarter-finals of the competition.
Arsenal returns to domestic and European preparations while awaiting medical updates on Blackstenius ahead of the national team gathering next week.
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