Chloe Kelly stated her time on mortgage at Arsenal has “put a smile again” on her face following their Girls’s Champions League conquer Barcelona on Saturday.
Kelly featured for 68 minutes within the last on the Estadio Jose Alvalade, a recreation that noticed substitute Stina Blackstenius rating the successful aim for the Gunners.
Certainly, it was Arsenal’s second victory within the competitors, and their first in 18 years, the largest hole between two trophies for a single membership within the match’s historical past.
Kelly loved a productive marketing campaign throughout her stint with Arsenal, having joined the membership on deadline day in January from Manchester Metropolis.
The England worldwide had a falling out with Metropolis boss Gareth Taylor resulting from a scarcity of recreation time, posting an impassioned social media submit concerning her frustrations.
She even thought-about taking a break from soccer all collectively, however Kelly expressed her enjoyment of pursuing her profession, which noticed her find yourself with the Champions League title.
“I stated I used to be coming to this membership to seek out happiness with soccer and I’ve a medal spherical my neck,” an emotional Kelly informed BBC Sport’s Jo Currie.
“On daily basis that I come into the membership I’m smiling. They put the smile again on my face so I’ll endlessly be glad about that.
“I took a step to attempt to make issues higher for myself and I’m grateful for the folks round me that supported me to take that step. This one is for everybody that helped me.”
Morning GOONERS pic.twitter.com/6bcSps58py
— Chloe (@chloekelly) Might 25, 2025
Kelly made 13 appearances in all competitions since re-joining Arsenal, scoring twice, whereas additionally serving to the Gunners to second within the Girls’s Tremendous League.
“Positively up there,” Kelly, who scored England’s successful aim within the Euro 2022 last, added on the place the victory ranks.
“The journey it has taken to get right here, it’s undoubtedly been a battle.
“Now to have fun this second with the women, with Arsenal Soccer Membership but in addition my household which have been there by means of the darkish days to now, I’m simply actually grateful.”
Match-winner Blackstenius was in disbelief by what her crew had achieved, along with her introduction maybe swinging the ultimate in Arsenal’s favour.
Regardless of solely enjoying 23 minutes within the showpiece, the Swede registered team-high totals for pictures (three, together with her aim) and touches within the opposition field (5).
“I’m so pleased I might give a aim in the present day. They stated I ought to attempt to run in behind and attempt to stretch them however that is as soon as once more an enormous, massive crew efficiency,” Blackstenius stated.
“I’m so pleased with our journey, how we got here right here and the way we managed the sport in the present day.
“I simply can’t imagine it, all of it. It’s such a crew efficiency from the very starting till the very.
“I simply can’t imagine we gained the Champions League, and we get to have fun, it hasn’t sunk in but.”
23 – Regardless of enjoying solely 23 minutes within the @UWCL last, Stina Blackstenius…
…had essentially the most pictures for Arsenal (3, together with the aim)
…made essentially the most touches inside Barcelona’s field (5)
…made solely 3 passes however accomplished all of themSub. pic.twitter.com/a6rq3rFVjY
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) Might 24, 2025
Arsenal captain Kim Little, nevertheless, felt prefer it was Arsenal’s 12 months to win the Champions League.
Little joined the north London membership the 12 months after the inaugural European victory in 2007, and lauded her crew for sticking to their recreation plan in opposition to the defending champions.
“It felt like our 12 months, and the sport in the present day was the identical factor. It went our manner. We performed the sport the way in which we needed, and it went our manner,” Little informed TNT after the sport.
“Within the different video games we had two legs, so we had time to regulate. Immediately we knew it was one recreation and we needed to execute our gameplan.
“We needed to cease them and handle the area properly, and the entire crew did that extremely properly in the present day, I’m so proud.”
