Arsenal loan spell has ´put a smile back on my face´, says Kelly

Chloe Kelly said her time on loan at Arsenal has “put a smile back” on her face following their Women’s Champions League triumph over Barcelona on Saturday.

Kelly featured for 68 minutes in the final at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, a game that saw substitute Stina Blackstenius score the winning goal for the Gunners.

Indeed, it was Arsenal’s second victory in the competition, and their first in 18 years, the biggest gap between two trophies for a single club in the tournament’s history.

Kelly enjoyed a productive campaign during her stint with Arsenal, having ed the club on deadline day in January from Manchester City.

The England international had a falling out with City boss Gareth Taylor due to a lack of game time, posting an imioned social media post regarding her frustrations.

She even considered taking a break from football all together, but Kelly expressed her delight in pursuing her career, which saw her end up with the Champions League title.

“I said I was coming to this club to find happiness with football and I have a medal round my neck,” an emotional Kelly told BBC Sport’s Jo Currie.

“Every day that I come into the club I’m smiling. They put the smile back on my face so I will forever be grateful for that.

“I took a step to try and make things better for myself and I’m grateful for the people around me that ed me to take that step. This one is for everyone that helped me.”

Morning GOONERS pic.twitter.com/6bcSps58py

— Chloe (@chloekelly) May 25, 2025

Kelly made 13 appearances in all competitions since re-ing Arsenal, scoring twice, while also helping the Gunners to second in the Women’s Super League.

“Definitely up there,” Kelly, who scored England’s winning goal in the Euro 2022 final, added on where the victory ranks.

“The journey it has taken to get here, it’s definitely been a battle.

“Now to celebrate this moment with the girls, with Arsenal Football Club but also my family that have been there through the dark days to now, I’m just really grateful.”

Match-winner Blackstenius was in disbelief by what her team had achieved, with her introduction perhaps swinging the final in Arsenal’s favour.

Despite only playing 23 minutes in the showpiece, the Swede ed team-high totals for shots (three, including her goal) and touches in the opposition box (five).

“I’m so happy I could give a goal today. They said I should try to run in behind and try to stretch them but this is once again a big, big team performance,” Blackstenius said.

“I’m so proud of our journey, how we came here and how we managed the game today.

“I just can’t believe it, all of it. It’s such a team performance from the very beginning until the very.

“I just can’t believe we won the Champions League, and we get to celebrate, it hasn’t sunk in yet.”

23 – Despite playing only 23 minutes in the @UWCL final, Stina Blackstenius…

…had the most shots for Arsenal (3, including the goal)
…made the most touches inside Barcelona’s box (5)
…made only 3 es but completed all of them

Sub. pic.twitter.com/a6rq3rFVjY

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 24, 2025

Arsenal captain Kim Little, however, felt like it was Arsenal’s year to win the Champions League.

Little ed the north London club the year after the inaugural European victory in 2007, and lauded her team for sticking to their game plan against the defending champions.

“It felt like our year, and the game today was the same thing. It went our way. We played the game the way we wanted, and it went our way,” Little told TNT after the game.

“In the other games we had two legs, so we had time to adjust. Today we knew it was one game and we had to execute our gameplan.

“We had to stop them and manage the space well, and the whole team did that incredibly well today, I’m so proud.”