Arsenal like the football philosophy of Laia Codina and Mariona Caldentey

Laia Codina has revealed how happy Arsenal are with both her and her compatriot Mariona Caldentey, praising the way they have adapted to English football.

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“They are thrilled. They like our idea of ​​football,” Codina said. “We always get a little itchy when they tell us our football is tiki-taka, and we tell them they’re box-to-box.” “It gets a little itchy,” she added with a laugh.

Codina, the 24-year-old central defender from Campllong, Girona, has quickly established herself as a key defensive figure for Arsenal and Spain. Reflecting on her current form, she said: “I feel like I’m in a good moment. Since last year I have already built up a base that I needed for a new adventure with few injuries at Arsenal. But I realize that at 24 years old I have to go to the bench and screw it up…”

Codina’s experience at Arsenal has been an integral part of her recent development and she has accepted the challenge of adapting to the English style of play. The support of the club and her teammates, including Mariona, has been crucial throughout her journey. Adapting Codina and Mariona wasn’t just about tactics, but also about winning the respect and admiration of their English counterparts.

In an interview with AS, Codina spoke about her rapid rise to head of the Spanish defense. “They told me after the game against Italy,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t like being told that because things change very quickly. I’m doing my job and when I play it’s great. And even when I’m not playing.” Despite her modesty, her development over the last two years has not gone unnoticed and her performances have made her an integral part of the national team.

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The Arsenal defender also spoke about the support she received from her former teammate Irene Paredes, which helped her grow both on and off the field. “I would only say one, Irene Paredes,” she said after a long pause when asked who influenced her the most. Codina noted how much she learned from Paredes during the World Cup, where subtle gestures had a big impact: “It shaped me. Almost without speaking. We didn’t talk at the game. But at 23 years old, when you have no idea… it’s little details.”

Reflecting on her lowest moments, she spoke about her World Cup failure against Switzerland and an early mistake on her U19 debut. “But first I went home and didn’t sleep for three days,” she admitted. She recalled a particularly tough experience when she was sent off in the cup final against Juventus in Milan, a memory that haunted her for two nights. The burden of self-expectation has always been heavy for Codina, but she credits her work with a psychologist, which she began at age 12, with helping her cope. “I started when I was 12 because I was afraid of failure. A lot of self-demand,” she explained.

Looking ahead to Spain’s upcoming clash with England in the Nations League, Codina expressed her willingness to meet familiar faces at Wembley Stadium. “I really want to play against them, I know a lot of them. And at Wembley Stadium to boot. I’ve said since the start of the course that we have to get to the FA Cup final with Arsenal by kicking it.”

As Codina’s career progresses, her mix of humility, determination and talent continues to make her an indispensable asset to Arsenal and Spain. Her journey is a testament to her resilience and commitment to the club and country.