Why is Kelly not an automatic starter for Arsenal or England?

Müsabaka gündeminden önemli bir haber: Why is Kelly not an automatic starter for Arsenal or England? Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Chloe Kelly has six goals and five assists for Arsenal this season despite only starting nine times in the Women's Super League and Champions League By Joe Bradshaw Sport senior journalist Published 3 minutes ago The shirt-twirling. The open-mouthed delight.

Chloe Kelly is firmly etched into football folklore. An extra-time winner at Euro 2022 to clinch England's first international title and the decisive penalty three years later to retain the trophy made sure of that. Despite those defining interventions for the Lionesses, Kelly's impact has faded.

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Rarely a starter for Arsenal, the 28-year-old managed just nine minutes off the bench in England's recent World Cup qualifiers with Spain and Iceland. As the Gunners' attentions turn to a Champions League semi-final against Lyon on Sunday, Sport assesses why Kelly is not an automatic choice for either club or country. Arsenal v Lyon Women's Champions League semi-final, first leg Sunday, 26 April at 15:30 BST Watch on iPlayer Listen on Sounds Watch live on Two and iPlayer and listen to commentary on Radio 5 Sports Extra and Sounds.

Follow streams of both, plus live text updates on the Sport website and app. What is Kelly's current situation? In 2022-23, fresh off her Euros heroics, Kelly was an integral part of Gareth Taylor's Manchester City side and started all but one of their Women's Super League fixtures.

Since then, it has been a different story. Dogged by injuries, she has made more appearances off the bench in the past three years than she has started games, with her time at City unravelling before her switch to Arsenal in January 2025. Shortly before that move, Kelly went public on a "disappointing" and "not right" , external situation having started just one match for City in the WSL in 2024-25.

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The move to Emirates Stadium began promisingly. She started nine of Arsenal's remaining 14 games, including the Champions League final victory over Barcelona. Then, came the latest pivotal episode in her career, a semi-final winner against Italy at Euro 2025 and that trophy-clinching penalty in the final.

However, 2025-26 has been less kind. Consigned to the Arsenal bench after starting - and scoring - on the opening day, Kelly then spent the best part of four months on the sidelines with a knee problem. She did at least start the three WSL games before the international break in March, scoring a hat-trick against West Ham, and started - and scored - in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final with Chelsea.

One week later though, she was alongside the subs again for the return at Stamford Bridge. 'I've accepted my future is not at this club' - Kelly Published 29 January 2025 Kelly back to 'best version' before Arsenal's crucial week Published 21 March Is Kelly a super-sub? For England, yes, but not for Arsenal.

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