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.”

Advertisement

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.

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren has said that Irish boxer Lee Reeves is “making progress” after being hospitalised following his fight in Dublin on Saturday night.

The 31-year-old’s condition was described as “critical but stable” after he was admitted for treatment following his defeat to Gary Cully.

Reeves was fighting for the vacant BUI Celtic super-lightweight title but was knocked out in the 10th round at the 3Arena.

The Limerick southpaw was stretchered out of the ring after the fight.

An update provided by Warren on Thursday struck a positive note.

“My team have been in touch with Lee Reeves’ team and he is making progress. That is what we’re hearing and thank the Lord for that,” Warren said.

“With Lee it’s all about time. Time hopefully can be a healer.”

Advertisement

Warren added that his hope was that Reeves would be able to “get back to his family as soon as possible”.

More than £80m has now been spent on Trafford in initial transfer fees.

As part of the deal taking him to Leeds, BBC Sport understands City will retain a 20% sell-on clause and have matching rights – meaning if they match a future offer for Trafford they will get first refusal on him.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke appears willing to pay a premium despite Trafford’s limited opportunities at Manchester City last season, after both Karl Darlow and Illan Meslier left Elland Road this summer.

Lucas Perri and Alex Cairns remain on the books, though Perri lost his place to Darlow in the second half of last season and did not feature in the Premier League after a 4-3 defeat by Newcastle on 7 January.

Leeds are investing in the potential of a young goalkeeper whose highlights have largely come in the Championship with Burnley, where he conceded just 16 goals in 45 appearances.

Trafford has only played 32 top-flight games, but former Clarets boss Scott Parker previously praised his turnaround at Turf Moor before moving to the Etihad.

Praised as “world class” by Parker, Trafford’s 29 clean sheets and 84.47% save ratio were key to Burnley’s promotion back to the Premier League in 2024-25.

Advertisement

Trafford began his career at City and had loan spells with Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers before joining Burnley in 2023.

He made 73 appearances for the Clarets before City activated their buy-back option last summer.