Leah Williamson has joked that the “shirt would have come off” had Chloe Kelly found the target during her north London derby debut for Arsenal.
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Returned to roots from Man CityMade second bow off the bench vs SpursDetermined to earn regular roleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Some 2,815 days after her last appearance for the Gunners, Lionesses star Kelly is back in familiar surroundings after securing a winter window loan transfer from Manchester City. Her first outing for the Gunners since 2018 could not have come in a bigger contest.
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Kelly was introduced off the bench – in front of 56,784 spectators at Emirates Stadium – in the 61st minute of a clash with arch-rivals Tottenham. Arsenal would go on to win that game 5-0. The returning debutant came close to netting a memorable goal, but was denied by the woodwork.
WHAT CHLOE KELLY & LEAH WILLIAMSON SAID
Speaking to afterwards, Kelly said: “I thought it was going in.” Her fellow European Championship winner Williamson, who is now a club colleague, chipped in with – in a nod to Kelly’s iconic celebration in the Euro 2022 final: “And the shirt would have come off!”
DID YOU KNOW?
Kelly, who says the reception she received when being introduced as a second-half substitute was “flipping amazing”, is determined to earn a regular role at Arsenal after growing frustrated at her lack of opportunities with City as her contract runs down.
