What will Mariona Caldentey bring to this Arsenal team?
Arsenal secured the signing of Mariona Caldentey this summer, but what role will she have, and what do the statistics reveal about her potential impact?
Who is Mariona Caldentey?
Mariona Caldentey, 28, is a versatile Spanish forward who has just completed a decade-long spell at Barcelona, having joined the club on July 30, 2014. Her first senior call-up to Spain’s national team came in 2017 after representing the country at the U17, U19, and U20 levels.
During her time at Barcelona, Mariona amassed an impressive collection of trophies, including 6 Primera División titles, 3 UEFA Women’s Champions Leagues, 5 Copa de la Reina titles, and 4 Supercopa Femenina trophies. On the international stage, she was a key member of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad in 2023 and contributed to their Nations League triumph in 2023/24.
On July 2, 2024, Arsenal announced the signing of Mariona Caldentey—a statement acquisition as they set their sights on surpassing last season's performance and challenging for major trophies.
Statistics:
Barcelona:
During her decade at Barcelona from 2014 to 2024, Mariona Caldentey made 234 appearances and scored 89 goals, solidifying her status as a key player for the club. Her consistent contributions over the years reflect her importance in one of the most successful periods in Barcelona's history (stats via FotMob).
In the 2023/24 season, Mariona Caldentey featured prominently for Barcelona, starting 13 out of 27 Liga F matches. She contributed directly to 18 goals, scoring 9 and assisting 9. Her finishing was efficient, with 46% of her 59 shots hitting the target, and her passing was exceptional, completing 84.6% of her passes (1,177 out of 1,392). Mariona was heavily involved in progressing the ball, attempting 898 carries and succeeding in 61% of her 54 take-on attempts (33 successful).
In the Champions League, Mariona started 10 of Barcelona’s 11 matches, including the final. She registered 2 goals and 3 assists with an 83.6% pass accuracy. Her versatility was on display as she played 6 games as a striker and 5 as a left winger, including the final where she featured on the left (stats via FBRef).
Over her 10 seasons at Barcelona, Mariona Caldentey’s statistics clearly demonstrate her crucial role in the team (stats via the Barcelona website).
2014-15 - 12 goals
2015-16 - 2 goals
2016-17 - 7 goals
2017-18 - 14 goals
2018-19 - 14 goals
2019-20 - 8 goals
2020-21 - 17 goals
2021-22 - 8 goals
2022-23 - 12 goals
Mariona Caldentey's progression over the years suggests a player who is continually refining her game, with significant improvement particularly evident in recent seasons.
Spain:
Mariona Caldentey has also made a significant impact on the international stage, scoring 26 goals in 79 appearances for the Spanish senior national team. Her contributions were pivotal during the most recent Women’s World Cup, where she scored once and provided an assist in 6 matches. Notably, she started and played the full 90 minutes in the final, helping Spain secure a 1-0 victory over England to win the tournament.
At the recent Olympic Games, Mariona added another goal to her tally in 4 matches, starting 3 of those games. Her performances reflect her status as a key player for one of the most competitive teams in women’s football (stats via FotMob).
Her role in the team:
Based on her statistics FBRef describes Mariona Caldentey as a similar player to Alessia Russo, highlighting her versatility and involvement in both build-up play and goal-scoring. Primarily operating as a left winger (LW) or striker (ST), Caldentey has also played as a right winger (RW) and central midfielder (CM) when needed, but her main role remains on the left flank.
Arsenal have faced challenges with consistency on the left wing, frequently relying on Foord as the primary choice, while players like Lacasse have been brought in but have now left the club after just one season. To enhance their attacking output, create more chances, and increase their goal tally, the addition of Caldentey is expected to be crucial.
Similar to Russo, Caldentey is actively involved in build-up play, often operating in central areas to advance the ball and create opportunities for teammates like Russo, Blackstenius, and Mead. Arsenal's focus on building connections between wingers and fullbacks will likely see players such as McCabe and Catley linking up with Caldentey through overlapping or underlapping runs.
Mariona brings several strengths to Arsenal’s attack, including her vision for long switch balls and through passes, as well as her dribbling ability to create space on the wings. Her accurate deliveries into the box and strong goal-scoring record will be valuable assets.
Her creative output and experience will be vital for Arsenal, especially as they aim to progress further in various competitions. If Arsenal qualify for the Champions League, Caldentey’s extensive experience will be a significant asset, and she is expected to make an immediate impact in the starting XI.
Closing thoughts:
As Arsenal aims to enhance their consistency, establishing a solid starting XI is crucial. With her impressive creative output, extensive experience at the highest level, and strong goal-scoring record, Mariona Caldentey is a pivotal signing for the team. Her arrival is set to be a key factor in strengthening Arsenal's attacking capabilities and overall performance.
Follow the author on socials:
For daily tweets, updates & all match day content, please follow my twitter below 👇🏻