Caldentey: 'Now is our time' as Arsenal chase trophies
Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey says the team must win trophies in the 2026-27 season after finishing second in the WSL and falling short in the Champions League. The club has added seven new players, including Ona Batlle and Georgia Stanway.
Mariona Caldentey is no stranger to silverware, having won four Champions League titles, six Spanish league championships, six Spanish cups, the European Championship and the World Cup. Still, the Arsenal midfielder says the club's ambitions for the 2026-27 season excite her. The Gunners are seeking their first Women's Super League title since 2019, as well as two domestic cups and a Champions League crown. "We have to do it - now it has to be our time," she said.
The 30-year-old was last seen in Arsenal colours in May, riding an open-top bus alongside the men's and women's teams after the club's title celebrations. The men secured their first Premier League title in 22 years, while the women had lifted the inaugural Women's Champions Cup against Corinthians in February. But last season also brought disappointment: a second-place finish in the WSL and an 87th-minute Lyon goal in the Champions League semi-final second leg that ended Arsenal's defence. Caldentey says the team is ready to take the next step and must be ambitious, fearless and self-believing.
Manager Renee Slegers has brought in seven new players this summer, including Spanish full-back Ona Batlle and England midfielder Georgia Stanway. Caldentey believes these additions address a consistency problem that cost Arsenal last season. "We have shown amazing moments and amazing games and others where we haven't been good enough," she said, calling those lapses painful. The new arrivals, she says, add quality.
The league is becoming even more competitive, with two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas joining London City Lionesses. Caldentey welcomes the challenge, calling the WSL an attractive competition where there are never easy games and the standard is high.
Individually, Caldentey has been outstanding in two seasons at the Emirates: she was named WSL Player of the Season, came second in the 2024-25 Ballon d'Or and made the WSL Team of the Year twice. Her role has shifted from forward to midfielder, yet only Alessia Russo has more goals and assists for Arsenal in that period. Caldentey says she adapts to what the team needs, and although she prefers playing higher up, she will fulfil any role. With her manager insisting that the squad must win trophies, Caldentey is preparing to deliver.
