Mariona Caldentey has collected an extraordinary haul of honours in her career, including four Champions Leagues, six Spanish league titles, six Spanish Cups, a European Championship and a World Cup. Yet the Spanish midfielder insists nothing excites her more right now than the prospect of Arsenal ending their long wait for major trophies in the 2026-27 campaign.
Arsenal have not won the Women's Super League since 2019, and Caldentey made clear she believes this is the season that drought must end, alongside pursuit of domestic cups and another Champions League crown. "We have to do it - now it has to be our time," she said.
Caldentey's last appearance in Arsenal colours came in May, when she joined the celebrations on an open-top bus parade through north London. The event honoured both the men's team, who had just won their first Premier League title in 22 years, and the women's side, who lifted the inaugural Women's Champions Cup after beating Brazil's Corinthians in February.
That triumph provided a highlight to remember, but the wider picture last season left Arsenal short of their ambitions. They finished second in the WSL and saw their Champions League title defence ended in painful fashion, with Lyon scoring an 87th-minute winner in the semi-final second leg. Caldentey, 30, is determined the club pushes further this time around.
"We need to take the next step and are ready for it," she said. "We need to be ambitious, have no fear and believe in ourselves. That does not mean we are going to win it - there are other things that we cannot control, but that's the message."
The Spain international also spoke about the demands of playing for a club of Arsenal's stature, describing the pressure as something she has learned to embrace. "We are professional athletes at a big club and we have to deal with pressure. We accept it and I think it's a cool part of the job," she said.
Caldentey pointed to inconsistency as the key factor that undermined Arsenal's campaign last season, despite moments of real quality. "We have shown amazing moments and amazing games and others where we haven't been good enough," she said. "That happened too many times last year. It was painful."
Manager Renee Slegers has moved to address that issue by bringing in seven new signings over the summer, including full-back Ona Batlle - a compatriot of Caldentey's - and England midfielder Georgia Stanway, who is expected to add steel to the centre of the park. Caldentey believes the new arrivals give Arsenal the depth and quality needed to sustain a title challenge. "We have added a lot of quality and that will help us," she said.
The WSL itself is becoming increasingly competitive, with high-profile arrivals such as two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, another Spaniard, joining London City Lionesses. Caldentey welcomed the growing standard of the league. "It is a really attractive league," she said. "What you see and experience here, you don't get in other places. There are never any easy games. You want to play against the best - that's the challenge as a player and the quality here is really high."
Caldentey's own individual performances have been central to Arsenal's recent success. Over her two seasons at the club, she has been named WSL Player of the Season, finished runner-up in the 2024-25 Ballon d'Or, and been included in the WSL Team of the Year on both occasions. Only Alessia Russo has contributed more goals and assists for Arsenal during that span.
Her role has shifted from a more advanced forward position to a deeper midfield presence, a transition she says has strengthened her overall game. "You have to adapt to what the team needs," she said. "Last year, I played a different role, closer to our defensive line. I was not used to it but these things make you grow. I do things better now than a year ago. Of course I enjoy playing higher up where you can be more creative and more risky, but whatever my coach or team needs, I'll do it."
With her manager demanding trophies this season, Caldentey appears ready to shoulder the responsibility of delivering them.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.