The Lionesses winger could be a decisive figure as the Gunners head to France needing to beat the eight-time European champions
Arsenal are certainly up against it this weekend. After losing the home leg of their Champions League semi-final clash with Lyon by a 2-1 scoreline, the Gunners have to beat the eight-time European champions on their own patch on Sunday if they are to reach the final of this competition for the first time since they triumphed in it back in 2007.
Lyon's last home defeat came over a year ago, when they were beaten on penalties by Fleury in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. Their last home defeat in 90 minutes was over two years ago, when Chelsea were 1-0 winners in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie. In short, it's not often that OL are beaten in their own backyard.
But there are reasons for Arsenal to believe. The Gunners created plenty of chances in that first leg, they just didn't take them; in the last round, they completed an unlikely comeback, overturning a 2-0 deficit against Real Madrid by winning 3-0 at home; and, crucially, both Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly should be fitter and sharper this time around. If that quarter-final triumph is anything to go by, then the latter's creativity could well make the difference, too.
Getty ImagesPlaying to her strengths
Both Russo and Kelly were magnificent when Arsenal thrashed Madrid to secure their place in the final four last month. Had the Gunners been more clinical in the first half, Kelly could've been going in at the break with more than one assist to her name. Within four minutes of the restart, though, she had two.
"I think we played to her strengths today really well," head coach Renee Slegers said of Kelly after the game. "The players on the pitch did that really well today but also, Madrid gave her the opportunity to play to her strengths. There was quite a lot of space so we set up situations where there was space for Chloe to do the things she's good at."
That's exactly what Arsenal need to try and do again on Sunday, as it has been working a treat since the England international arrived at the club on loan at the end of the winter transfer window.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMaking an impact
Since making the first appearance of her second spell with the Gunners, only Katie McCabe has created more chances in the Women's Super League for Arsenal than Kelly. The Lionesses star has completed more dribbles than any club-mate, she ranks third for both shots taken and touches in the opposition box, as well as joint-second for shots on target.
Those statistics just support the eye test, which has suggested that Kelly has been remarkably impactful on this Arsenal attack. That's in other ways, too. The 27-year-old has been praised for her attitude, work rate and contributions in training by Slegers, while her mere presence adds more depth out wide.
GettyUnfortunate timing
That the ankle injury she picked up earlier this month was only minimal, then, is huge news. Kelly had to pull out of the England squad at the start of April due to that issue, missing both of the Lionesses' games against Belgium.
Unfortunately, it wasn't minor enough for her to be ready to go from the start when Arsenal hosted Lyon last week, restricting her to a role from the bench. However, another week on the training pitch will have done her the world of good.
Getty ImagesMissed opportunities
What difference could she make in France if she is fit to start? Arsenal created a lot of chances even with Kelly on the bench at the Emirates. That wasn't really an issue; it was more that they just didn't take them. Indeed, the English side had a higher expected goals (xG) total than Lyon in the first leg, but they came out of the game 2-1 down on aggregate.
In a way, the match was reminiscent of the first half of the second leg against Real Madrid. The Gunners' peppered the visitors' box in that first 45 minutes and yet, somehow, didn't score. That might be an encouraging thing for Slegers to tell her players, really, given how quickly Arsenal turned it around in the second half, seemingly getting their shooting boots on at the interval to score three times in 14 minutes.
