Katie McCabe could face Arsenal for the first time since leaving the club when Chelsea welcome their London rivals to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The Republic of Ireland captain joined Chelsea this summer after spending a decade with Arsenal and has quickly become part of Sonia Bompastor’s plans.
Sunday’s Women’s Super League meeting now offers McCabe the chance to line up against the club where she made 305 appearances and scored 36 goals.
Chelsea confirmed those figures when announcing her signing, with McCabe joining on a contract until 2029 with the option of another year.
Katie McCabe faces familiar Arsenal opposition
McCabe joined Arsenal in 2015 and developed into one of the club’s most recognisable players.
She won the Women’s FA Cup, Women’s Super League and Women’s Champions League during her time in north London, while also being voted Arsenal’s Player of the Season twice.
The 30-year-old later explained that she felt she had achieved everything she could at Arsenal and was ready for a new challenge.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website after completing the move, McCabe said discussions with Bompastor and the club’s ambitions convinced her that Stamford Bridge was the right destination.
She has already become a regular option for Chelsea.
McCabe started the WSL opener against Aston Villa before retaining her place in the side that beat Manchester United 5-0.
She also started Chelsea’s Champions League victory over Austria Wien in midweek.
First Arsenal meeting carries extra significance
Chelsea identified the Arsenal fixture as McCabe’s potential first meeting with her former club when tickets went on sale during the summer.
There is no guarantee she starts on Sunday, particularly with Bompastor rotating her defensive options during a busy run of fixtures.
But if McCabe is involved, it will provide one of the most intriguing individual storylines of the afternoon.
Chelsea and Arsenal have already developed one of the WSL’s defining rivalries.
For McCabe, this meeting carries an additional personal edge after ten years on the opposite side of it.
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