Kelly in a ‘really good place’ for Arsenal ahead of WSL return

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Chloe Kelly is raring to get back to her best after a disappointing first full season back at Arsenal.

Kelly initially rejoined Arsenal on loan in January 2025 after falling out of favour at Manchester City, and she hit the ground running.

After making her second debut – 2,815 days after her last game for the Gunners – she scored twice and provided five assists in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, while helping the club win the Champions League.

She then played a pivotal role for England in their triumphant Euro 2025 campaign, scoring the winning penalty against Spain in the final, before making her move to Arsenal permanent.

However, she was hampered by injury last season, only making four starts in the Women’s Super League and playing just 470 minutes overall.

But Kelly is determined to put that behind her when the new season starts on September 4.

“A bit of a fear of the unknown. I reflect on [the end of her City spell] as a dark moment but one of learning about myself,” she told BBC Sport.

“In moments where I’m confident, I’ll show it, but that’s not always the case. In other moments, I need a little arm around the shoulder.

— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) July 27, 2026

“I had big goals to do amazing things at Arsenal in my first full season, and I was a little disappointed I wasn’t able to.

“I think I needed this summer to work on myself physically, balancing working in the gym, on the pitch, and getting downtime.

“I am in a really good place at the moment. My main goal is to stay fit and fresh all season and be ready when called upon.”

It could also be a big summer for England next year, if they qualify for the Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The Lionesses have to go through the play-offs after finishing as runners-up in their qualifying group, but Kelly is only keeping her eyes on the short term for now.

“My goals and assists are really important, so I’ll make sure I’m right at it,” she added.

“For me, I’ll think about [the World Cup] closer to the time.”

The WSL fixtures for the 2026-27 season are due to be announced on Thursday.

General Soccer News

Former Man Utd and Real Madrid striker Hernandez joins Atletico Dallas

General Soccer News

Salah talks with Besiktas stall due to financial demands

General Soccer News

Brighton captain Symonds pens new long-term deal

General Soccer News

Alonso stresses need for patience in first Chelsea season

General Soccer News

Gundogan tips Bayern to ‘march through Bundesliga again this season’

General Soccer News

‘No distractions’ helping Wilson settle in at new club Leeds

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.