By Gethin Thurlow (23/05/25)
In the sixth article of our series of special articles ahead of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final on Saturday, Impetus Football’s Gethin Thurlow evaluates the impact of Chloe Kelly.
“A key lesson I have learned in life is that whilst I can’t control someone’s negative behaviour towards me, I can control how long I am prepared to take it.”
This is how Chloe Kelly reflected on Gareth Taylor and Manchester City’s treatment of her in the first half of the season as she pushed for a move away from the club.Just four starts, all in less important games, a brand new star signing in her position and Sarina Wiegman on the verge of dropping her from England; it was clear something needed to change.
We will probably never know the full extent of what happened between Kelly and Taylor, but it’s clear that it was down to more than just performance, as he claimed. Across those four starts, Kelly scored a goal and provided three assists, not the sort of form you’d expect from the third or fourth choice winger. In fact, Kelly was just second in goal contribution (goal or assist) per minute ratio in her time at the club this season, significantly ahead of Mary Fowler and Aoba Fujino who were consistently picked ahead of her.
Regardless of this, Arsenal was always going to be a tough team to break into, and with only a few months left until the Euros, Kelly couldn’t afford to wait around for her opportunity. Luckily for her, Renee Slegers is no Taylor and likes to utilise attacking substitutions every game, giving players plenty of minutes even when they start on the bench.
For Kelly though, who came into football through the Arsenal academy all those years ago being on the bench was only a reality for one game. She started her second game against West Ham- kick starting the Gunner’s comeback with a goal, later providing an assist from a corner and has never looked back since then.
Playing as a traditional winger: bombing down the right wing then whipping crosses into the area with a magical right foot really suits Slegers’ Arsenal side who dominate the ball and like to attack the box with numbers. The second leg of the Champions League quarter final against Real Madrid was a particularly memorable game, where Kelly just kept on firing cross after cross into the box – eventually being converted and seeing Arsenal through to the semis.
It’s not just the Champions League crowd that have been blessed with Kelly’s crossing ability however. She leads the entire WSL in crosses per 90 minutes, a stat which I’m sure Golden Boot winner Alessia Russo is appreciative of.
As if she hasn’t shown the world enough yet, the Champions League Final presents an opportunity for Kelly to complete a footballing story for the ages: from being counted out at City to a Champions League hero merely months later.
Ultimately, this is a story of resilience; of an unwavering commitment to represent your country; of how good environments make good players; and, despite what some in East Manchester may say: how Chloe Kelly never ‘lost it’. England Legend, football hero; Chloe Kelly’s legacy is only going one way.
If you missed the previous articles in our countdown to the UWCL final, you can find them below:
- Vic Ackers and Arsenal’s trophy-ridden past: https://impetusfootball.org/2025/05/20/arsenal-women-trophy-hunters-across-time/
- The financial implications of the UWCL: https://impetusfootball.org/2025/05/19/its-good-to-share-rethinking-the-creation-and-distribution-of-revenue-in-the-womens-game/
- Kim Little profile & analysis: https://impetusfootball.org/2025/05/22/kim-little-enduring-excellence-on-the-european-stage/
- Steph Catley media conference: https://impetusfootball.org/2025/05/23/steph-catley-this-is-a-special-team-and-we-have-a-lot-of-belief-in-what-were-doing/
- What this final means to Australian Arsenal fans: https://impetusfootball.org/2025/05/23/australian-arsenal-fans-share-their-love-of-the-gunners-ahead-of-champions-league-final/
The Champions league final between Arsenal and Barcelona will be played in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday May 24th at 17:00 UK time. It will be broadcast on TNT Sports in the UK and on DAZN elsewhere.
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