Few have lived through the entire range of football’s exhilarating highs and heartbreaking lows as swiftly as Arsenal and Spain’s Mariona Caldentey.

Within nine weeks, she faced two European finals. First, a monumental victory with her English club against her past team. Then, the heartache of a missed penalty for her national team as the European trophy slipped from the grasp of the Euros’ most reliable team. This was particularly painful as Caldentey had set the tone by scoring first in the final.

Spain delivered a standout performance during the summer tournament, with their midfield maestro driving much of their achievement. The world champions had the highest number of chances, scored the most goals, and maintained the most clean sheets, yet their captivating football was ultimately undone in the final by the fierce determination embodied by Leah Williamson and her team.

“Of course it was sad,” the 29-year-old reflected. “We (Spain) had a great Euros and came so close. We only lost in the final on penalties. Reaching a semi-final or final was unprecedented for us, so getting that far was already a success. However, being there, our aim was to win. For a fleeting moment, we were close, playing good football, but in the end, England was more clinical than us.

“Returning to Arsenal was alright though – there’s mutual respect. I congratulated them, and they congratulated me on the Euros. Now, we’re on the same team, pursuing the same objectives once more. I’m happy for them, though I wish the final outcome had been different. Nonetheless, what England has accomplished is incredible.”

For Caldentey, football’s relentless pace has softened the sting of that spot-kick heartache.

‘Football goes so quickly. Good or bad, the next day you have another opportunity and another chance to start again,’ she says.

A tinge of gold has helped lift the gloom somewhat, too. Shortly after receiving a Ballon d’Or nomination in recognition of her dominant first season in north London, Caldentey claimed the esteemed PFA women’s Player of the Year award only a couple of weeks later. After scoring 19 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions in her first season in north London, she describes how the individual accolades only serve to fuel her hunger.

‘They motivate me to improve and help the team,’ she says. ‘I want to win as many trophies as possible with the team. If individuals do well, the team does better – and when the team is better, we feel better individually. You can’t separate that in football.

‘It gives me confidence. I know when I’m happy I can play my best football and I feel really good here – the staff, players, everyone at the club makes it easy for me.’

The arrival of the Mallorcan native last summer came as a surprise to many at the time. A key figure in an incessantly successful Barcelona team, Caldentey’s decision to swap the riches and sunshine of the hazy Catalonian coast for the notoriously gloomy English weather and a team in Arsenal who hadn’t lifted a league title in five years or a European trophy in 18 was, undoubtedly, unconventional.

Upon her arrival she optimistically described it as a desire for a new challenge and the opportunity to immerse herself in a new culture, but she admits now that nothing could have prepared her for the challenge of the opening few months and the Gunners’ struggles under former head coach Jonas Eidevall.

‘The start of last season was hard,’ she says. ‘I think it was the moment that I struggled the most because, for weeks, we couldn’t win or we couldn’t get the results that we wanted. That was a challenge because I came from a club where we won every week.’

Caldentey admits it also took some time to find her feet. Part of that was getting used to English – something she still finds frustrating since it can make it hard to fully express herself – but she has come a long way.

‘The first month was really busy. A new car, new house, new phone… when you move, there are so many little things you need to do to actually settle. Once that was done, I started to enjoy things on the pitch a bit more.’

Did she ever imagine after that first month that Arsenal would be lifting the Champions League? ‘No’, she replies, simply.

‘After that first month, I couldn’t imagine we’d win it. But it’s something amazing that we’ve done – the comeback against Real Madrid, beating Lyon, and then Barcelona in the final to bring the trophy back to England after such a long time, it was amazing.’

Unable to take any credit for bringing the title back to England (despite her seven goals in the competition placing her joint-second in the standings), she instead points to her team’s mentality and the role her young Gunners head coach, Renee Slegers, played in the achievement. Seven years her senior, Slegers was appointed Arsenal’s boss just weeks after the Spaniard arrived in the capital.

‘Maybe because she’s (Slegers) not that experienced, she’s really open, asking a lot of questions, speaks a lot,’ Caldentey says. ‘That creates a good environment between the players and the coach. We feel her confidence, and I hope she feels ours.’

That belief in her team’s mindset and Slegers’ leadership has also shaped Arsenal’s approach to their domestic rivals.

‘Chelsea have been amazing and consistent for years, but of course we want to change that,’ she adds. ‘Winning a big trophy last year gave us confidence that we can be even more consistent than them. We have the squad to compete with them, even knowing they’re a great team with a great coach. In football, anything can happen and we will try to bring the trophy here.’

A part of enjoying her new life has also meant that she has been experiencing everything that London has to offer, especially when friends and family are in town and a trip to the West End is on the cards. Although there is one thing she admits she still can’t seem to wrap her head around: the English cuisine.

‘I always mention two things I miss from Spain: the sun and the food. I always ask visitors to bring me jamon from home,’ she adds. ‘But honestly, we’re lucky because we have a great chef at Arsenal so I’m fine!’