BBC News
This summer, Slegers has strengthened her hand with seven new players, including full-back Ona Batlle, Caldentey’s compatriot, and England dynamo Georgia Stanway to stiffen midfield.
Caldentey says Arsenal came up short last season through inconsistency and hopes the signings will help overcome that hurdle.
“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.
“We have added a lot of quality and that will help us.”
With players such as two-time Ballon d’Or winner and fellow Spaniard Alexia Putellas arriving in the WSL, down the road at London City Lionesses, Caldentey accepts the league is getting tougher.
“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.”
And any observer would count Caldentey as among the very best.
In two seasons at Emirates Stadium, she has won WSL Player of the Season, come second in the 2024-25 Ballon d’Or and made the WSL Team of the Year both times.
During that period, her role has evolved from forward to midfielder and yet, despite that, only Alessia Russo has scored and assisted more for Arsenal.
“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.”
Her manager has stated clearly her team needs trophies. Caldentey is steeling herself to deliver.
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