🧠 Food for Thought - Why We Signed Chloe Kelly.
- John Maurice Otieno
- Apr 10
- 6 min read
Previously, we looked at why we signed Daphne van Domselaar and if Mariona Caldentey could be the solution to our chance-to-goal conversion problems; both summer signings that have undoubtedly proven key to our team's defensive and attacking prowess this season.
However, someone I didn't see contributing massively to the team's stellar performances this campaign is renowned Cityzen and Lionesses' hero... Chloe Kelly. When Arsenal sniffed an opportunity in the winter transfer window to bring the club's academy graduate back home on loan, they pounced. But why, exactly?
Well, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of it all. As always, details matter.
1. Defending from the Front.
One thing about the Gunners: we attack as a team and we defend as a team, and our no. 18 epitomizes this. A percentile ranking of 85% for tackles in the attacking third (0.60 per 90) paints a picture of a player who's immediately on the hunt should her team lose possession in the opposition's defensive third, snuffing out any potential counterattacks.
"I still have that fire in my belly to go and win the ball back at all costs and really fight for the team. There's no trophy to be won in that, but it's the pride that you walk off the pitch with."
Chloe's also proactive in her defending in regard to screening opposing players' intentions, scoring an impressive 90% percentile rank for interceptions (1.04 per 90).
[Stats courtesy of FBRef. Player compared to positional peers in Women's Top 9 Competitions over the last 365 days.]
2. Running Down the Wing.
As alluded above, Arsenal's forwards are expected to work hard and perform their defensive duties diligently, be it dropping deep into a solid 4-4-2 shape, or tracking back to help cover our full-backs in defending tricky wingers. Kelly doesn't shy away from the dirty work and constantly bombs back-and-forth the flanks to help her team. Consider this heatmap from the recent WSL game when Liverpool visited the Emirates:
![Chloe Kelly Heatmap v Liverpool (H) [22-3-2025] | Courtesy of WhoScored](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/912c54_d00864e487fa4d979c11b3cb999328ce~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_340,h_261,al_c,q_80,enc_avif,quality_auto/912c54_d00864e487fa4d979c11b3cb999328ce~mv2.jpg)
Chloe Kelly starts the game on the right wing but periodically switches to the left, swapping flanks with Caitlyn Foord. On either flank, she covers a lot of ground, facilitating attacks whilst also tracking back to aid either Fox (Right-Back) or McCabe (Left-Back) in defending. Liverpool were dispatched 4-0, failing to muster a single shot in our box, let alone a shot on target.
3. Delivery on the Money.
Perhaps no WSL player rivals Kelly's wicked deliveries, and I reckon you'll struggle to find better crossers of the ball in women's world football. The England international boasts phenomenal numbers in this department, ranking in the 82% percentile for switches (0.17 per 90), 82% for outswinging corners (0.35 per 90), 92% for inswinging corners (2.33 per 90), 99% for straight corners (0.26 per 90) and 99% for crosses (8.72 per 90). She also claims an incredible 99% percentile ranking for crosses into the penalty area (1.47 per 90).
[Stats courtesy of FBRef. Player compared to positional peers in Women's Top 9 Competitions over the last 365 days.]
"I know what quality Chloe's got on the ball when she puts the cross in and I said to her yesterday, 'I'll get on the end of one if you put it there.' And we did just that."
4. "How May I Assist You?"
Who can forget Chloe Kelly assisting two quick-fire goals in three minutes to help us overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit against Real Madrid to set up an enthralling UWCL semi-final clash against record-holders Lyon? 95% percentile rankings for assists (0.52 per 90), expected assists (0.39 per 90) and expected assisted goals (0.35 per 90) show an elite attacker with an ability to constantly pick out teammates in the final third and set them up to be on the end of goal-creating actions.
[Stats courtesy of FBRef. Player compared to positional peers in Women's Top 9 Competitions over the last 365 days.]
Chloe Kelly has accrued the second-most WSL assists since 2020/21, and with 2 assists in 2 UWCL appearances (1 start) in her second Arsenal spell thus far, as well as an equal amount in 5 WSL appearances (4 starts), our exciting wide forward is proving to be something of a Principal Assistant, if you may.
5. Chief Creator.
When making her second debut in red and white, Chloe Kelly made a 29-minute cameo off the bench in the North London derby at the Emirates and created 4 chances, the 2nd-most in the game. Consider the winger's strengths as per WhoScored:
A 74% percentile ranking for through balls (0.17 per 90), coupled with 92% for key passes (2.76 per 90) exhibit commendable chance creation. Not to mention, 90% for shot-creating actions (5.18 per 90), as well as 95% for goal-creating actions (1.12 per 90) are further evidence of elite vision and creativity in the attacking third.
At the time of this writing, I just watched Bukayo Saka win two fouls on the edge of the opposition box in the men's UCL quarter final tie against Real Madrid, and Declan Rice bury both the resultant free-kicks. It may not be as blatant, but drawing fouls is still a part of chance creation and I'm pleased to see Chloe Kelly in the top 3% (97% percentile rank) for goal-creating actions from fouls drawn (0.09 per 90). Don't forget, penalties tend to stem from fouls too. We've got a Chief Creator on our hands.
[Stats courtesy of FBRef. Player compared to positional peers in Women's Top 9 Competitions over the last 365 days.]
The Nutshell.
In a nutshell, Chloe Kelly truly is a remarkable player, constantly putting up elite numbers that rank her among the very best of the best in the world in her position. In what are seemingly her prime years, what's scary is... she can get even better!
“She's got such a good shot with limited back-lift and power coming through. It's just probably taking some of that power out and just working on the hip shape and angle to get that ball whipped into the corner, which we've been doing over the last couple of sessions."
- Arsenal attacking coach Kelly Smith speaking recently on Chloe Kelly
Pouncing in the January market to bring the talented forward back home has proven to be a very shrewd piece of business by the club. Whether she actually decides to stay in N5 or not, and whether the club decide to keep her or not, is a bridge we'll cross in the summer. For now, we've still got work to do in the business end of the WSL and UWCL campaigns, and we're going to need our no. 18 to keep putting up those impressive figures. Not to mention, the celes.
"It’s been great. I always said I really wanted to get my smile back and this club has has done just that for me and I’m very grateful and you can see when I have a smile on my face, I just play free and I have good energy."
- Chloe speaking post-Crystal Palace (A)
So, what have you made of Chloe Kelly's signing? And how do you see her evolution in this Arsenal side should she choose to stay? Food for thought. 🧠
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