Welcoming us into the home she shares with Arsenal manager husband Mikel Arteta and their sons, model and actress Lorena Bernal talks finding lasting peace and happiness

Model and actress Lorena relaxes in the North London home she shares with her football manager husband Mikel and their three sons

PHOTOGRAPHS: OLIVER OGLESBY STYLING: URSULA LAKE

(LEFT) TROUSER SUIT: JOSEPH. (RIGHT) SHIRT: WIGGY KIT. SKIRT: VERONICA BEARD

The sun is shining and the sound of a football bouncing on the path echoes around Lorena Bernal’s garden as she expertly works the camera, encouraging her French bulldog Blue to join her in a shot as she reclines on the grass.

“I’m not sure this is his best angle,” she laughs as she tickles his tummy and he wags his tail. HELLO! has joined the actress, model and spiritual life coach at the beautiful North London home she shares with her husband, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, 43, and their sons – Gabriel, Daniel and Oliver, who will turn 16, 13 and ten in June – for our exclusive shoot and interview. We’re discussing her brand new book It Starts with You: How to Find Lasting Peace and Happiness – and it’s clear that Lorena has plenty of reasons to be cheerful.

“My happiest moments are when my family are all together, eating together and just enjoying the moment. When Mikel and I look at our kids, or we hear them in the background playing together, we’ll look at each other like: ‘That is happiness,’” she smiles, as, behind us, two of her sporty boys kick a ball around on the lawn, which has – as you’d expect in this football-mad household – goal posts at either end. “We feel we’ve done a good job and they’re happy and healthy. That’s the happiest moment for me.”