Chloe Kelly: Why England’s Euros Hero Is Fighting for Minutes at Arsenal and Slipping Down the Lionesses Pecking Order

Chloe Kelly, Arsenal Women & England: A Euros hero navigating an unexpected battle for game time

Chloe Kelly spent the summer of 2025 becoming a household name all over again. Her decisive performances for England at the Women’s European Championship—a hat-trick of knockout-round masterclasses—put her back at the heart of the national conversation, lifting the Lionesses to a second straight continental title and reviving memories of that iconic extra-time finish at Euro 2022.

But as the WSL season has unfolded and the spotlight has shifted back to domestic football, the narrative has taken an unexpected turn. Instead of riding a wave of momentum into her first full year as a permanent Arsenal Women player, Kelly finds herself fighting for minutes, drifting down the pecking order and forced into the role of impact sub more often than she would ever have imagined.

With nine league games gone and four Champions League fixtures played, only four players in the entire squad have seen fewer minutes. Three league starts—just three—for one of England’s most influential players at Euro 2025. A surprising situation, and one that nobody, including Kelly herself, would have predicted when she signed permanently after a brilliant loan spell last spring.

As she prepares to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony as one of the favourites—second only to golf’s newly crowned career-grand-slammer Rory McIlroy—the contrast between her summer heroics and her autumn frustrations is striking. The question is simple: how has England’s Euros hero found herself here?

Navigating a Stop-Start Setback

Kelly’s season didn’t begin poorly so much as it began strangely. She started Arsenal’s season opener against London City Lionesses and then immediately dropped out of the next match at West Ham with a knock. From that point on—and visible to anyone watching closely—she played with heavy strapping around her right knee, a clear sign she was managing something.

While she only missed that one match, her performances told a different story. There were flashes of herself, especially early in games, but her intensity waned, as did her freedom in high-transition moments. Then came the start against Lyon in early October, a huge fixture that seemed to arrive too soon. Kelly looked off the pace, unable to influence Arsenal’s attack and struggling to track back defensively. She was substituted before the hour mark.

From there, her outings became shorter, sharper and mostly from the bench. The eye test and the minutes distribution told the same story: this was not the Chloe Kelly who had tormented Italy, Spain and everyone else at the Euros.

Moments of Magic, Even Without Full Fitness

Arsenal v London City Lionesses – Barclays Women’s Super League Kelly

Yet even at 70 or 80 percent, Kelly has an undeniable knack for producing something. She scored against her former club Manchester City in a 3–2 defeat and delivered two trademark assists in the Champions League—one a clever, improvised touch for Alessia Russo against Benfica, the other a whipped, venomous cross that sparked Arsenal’s comeback against Real Madrid.

Those moments matter. They’re reminders of why Arsenal fought so hard to sign her permanently and why England still consider her one of their most important attacking weapons. They also highlight an uncomfortable truth: even half-fit, Kelly can still be decisive.

But in a season where Arsenal have loaded up on attacking depth—Olivia Smith’s record-breaking arrival from Liverpool being the most obvious example—decisive flashes aren’t enough. Competition is fierce, and head coach Renee Slegers has refused to rush Kelly back prematurely.

Back to Full Fitness—and Back in the XI?

The turning point came just before the international break. Asked for clarity on Kelly’s status, Slegers finally shed light on the situation:

“She missed the West Ham game and a couple of training sessions but since then she’s been building back. Some things take longer than others, but she’s fully fit now.”

Those words were echoed in action, as Kelly earned her third start of the season—against Real Madrid, no less. It was a big call, and she justified it. Her cross for Russo’s goal was exceptional, but more importantly, she looked like herself again: sharp, confident, mobile and unburdened by the knee issue that had clearly been troubling her.

It was a performance that suggested a reset. A new starting point. The moment the real Chloe Kelly returns.

England’s Wide Options Are Shifting Fast

If Kelly needed a reminder of how quickly the landscape can change at international level, she got one last weekend. England’s record-breaking 8–0 win over China showcased a thrilling, relentless front line. Beth Mead looked back to her best with a brace. Lauren Hemp scored on her return. Jess Park, thriving as a winger after a positional switch at Manchester United, was electric. And this was without Lauren James, recently back from her own injury.

In other words: England’s wide areas are more competitive than ever.

Kelly’s dominance as a super-sub at the Euros—one of the most defining tournament-impact roles the Lionesses have ever seen—won’t shield her forever. To stay influential, she needs regular minutes. Goals. Assists. Evidence that she is again the same player who changed the trajectory of England’s knockout campaign three times in a row.

Arsenal’s Depth Presents a Similar Challenge

If England’s competition is fierce, Arsenal’s might be even fiercer. Mead is back. Smith is flying. Caitlin Foord remains a guaranteed contributor. Mariona Caldentey adds yet another high-level option. All of them are fully fit, fully sharp and producing regularly.

For Kelly, that means the margin for error is small. She needs rhythm—and she needs it fast.

A Crucial End to a Monumental Year

There is still plenty of time for Kelly to reshape the story of her season. Arsenal have a congested calendar before the winter break: WSL fixtures, Champions League matchdays, and the League Cup knockout phase all looming. If Kelly truly is back to full sharpness, this stretch is her opportunity to reclaim her place and reassert her influence.

For England, Tuesday’s match against Ghana offers something similar. Sarina Wiegman might well see it as the perfect moment to ignite Kelly again ahead of next year’s World Cup qualifying campaign—a campaign that requires England to beat Spain to secure automatic qualification for Brazil 2027.

And if there is one thing Chloe Kelly has proven time and time again, it’s that she thrives when the stakes rise. She is a big-moment player. A rhythm player. A confidence player. If Arsenal give her minutes, she will deliver. If England need her, she will respond.

This year has already been monumental for her—Euro heroics, a permanent move, a BBC SPOTY nomination. But the final chapter of 2025 is still being written, and Chloe Kelly has a way of ensuring her story ends on her terms.

If she finds form now, both Arsenal and England will feel it immediately. And if she doesn’t? There are plenty waiting for their chance.

But writing her off, after everything she’s already delivered, would be a mistake. A very familiar one.