Mariona Caldentey

Arsenal condemned a broken Leicester to a bottom-place finish in the WSL and kept the pressure on Manchester City at the top with a dominant win. Two goals each from Sweden’s Smilla Holmberg and Stina Blackstenius and one apiece from Frida Maanum, Mariona Caldentey and Leah Williamson, helped Arsenal reduce their goal-difference deficit with the league leaders from 13 to six. “I’m so happy,” said the Arsenal head coach, Renée Slegers. “We wanted to win today, we needed to win today, so we did that … What’s most pleasing to see is that we play the Arsenal way and that doesn’t change regardless of who’s on the pitch. Everyone’s contributing.”

Ahead of the Women’s Champions League semi-finals, Guillem Balague sits down with Spain and Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey, who is personally aiming going for a fourth consecutive UWCL win, and a fifth overall. Mariona gives us an insight into her childhood on the island of Mallorca, moving to Barcelona aged 18 and how she’s adapted since moving to Arsenal back in 2024. Plus, the pair look ahead to facing European giants Lyon in the semi-finals this season, just how much the Champions League means to her and of course discuss the growing rivalry in the women’s game that is Spain vs the Lionesses! Commentary of both legs of Arsenal’s semi-final against Lyon will be on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds. TIMECODES: 00:46 - Mariona sits down with Guillem. 01:17 - Mariona tells us about her childhood in Felanitx, on the island of Mallorca. 06:40 - On joining Barcelona at 18 years old. 08:50 - On moving to Arsenal back in the summer of 2024 and how she’s adapted. 12:24 - On the recognition she achieved during her first season in England. 15:45 - On her club captain Kim Little and playing at the Emirates. 21:20 - Looking back on last year’s Champions League win. 22:40 - Looking ahead to this year’s Champions League semi-final against Lyon. 28:50 - On the developing rivalry between Spain and the Lionesses.