After that, the big games come thick and fast. Unless Leuven pull off something incredible on Wednesday, a two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea awaits Arsenal in a few weeks' time, with the Gunners also expected to be involved in the last eight of the FA Cup. In the WSL, meanwhile, every game is huge given how tight the race for European qualification is. After their trip to Brighton on Sunday was postponed, the Gunners are now four points off Chelsea in the third and final UWCL spot, albeit with two games in hand.
Fortunately, in Kelly, Arsenal have a player who thrives in these moments, and they have a nice runway to get her back up to speed in time for them to come along.
"We’ve missed her," Gunners boss Renee Slegers said of the winger upon her return to action at the end of last month. "She’s so hungry, she’s so engaged and you could see that on the pitch as well. She wanted to be back and make an impact on the team. You can just feel that desire, so it’s really good for us as a team to have Chloe back."
That's because this is a player who doesn't just decide games; she decides the biggest games. Arsenal know that, England know that, and both club and country will hope Kelly can prove as much again before the end of what has been, for reasons out of her control, a tough season so far.