Caldentey at the heart of Arsenal's European quest

After an impressive WSL debut season, Spain’s World Cup winner will come up against her former team when Arsenal meet Barcelona in Lisbon tomorrow

- Jamie Braidwood

When Arsenal approached Mariona Caldentey in the summer of 2024, it was with occasions like tomorrow’s Women’s Champions League final in mind. A three-time European champion with Barcelona, and a World Cup winner with Spain, the midfielder was seen as a figure with the talent, work ethic, charisma and trophy cabinet to help Arsenal to the next level. Her final game for Barcelona came in Bilbao, as they defeated Lyon to retain the Champions League. A year on, the last game of her first season at Arsenal will culminate in another Champions League final, this time against her former side.

Just as Arsenal hoped, Caldentey has been pivotal to their run to their first Women’s Champions League final since 2007. The 29year-old scored in both legs of their semi-final victory over Lyon, as well as in the quarter-final comeback against Real Madrid. It seems so simple now, as if by design, but she has brought the winning mentality that resulted in 25 major titles during her 10 years with Barcelona. That feeling, Caldentey has said, is “contagious”. “Mariona is a winner in everything,” said the Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers. “She is moving the culture forward.”

Caldentey’s first year in England, though, has not been without its challenges. If the signing of one of Spain’s World Cup winners and one of the most successful players in Barcelona’s recent dominance was a statement of intent from Arsenal at the start of the season, the first few weeks of their campaign brought a different reality. Jonas Eidevall was gone after just four games of the new Women’s Super League season, and following a dismal 5-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stages. After a show of ambition, Arsenal were left trying to salvage something from their year.