‘Shirt would have come off!’ - Leah Williamson jokes with Chloe Kelly after north London derby debut for Arsenal as Lionesses star vows to ‘fight’ for her place

Some 2,815 days after her last appearance for the Gunners, Lionesses star Kelly is back in familiar surroundings after securing a winter window loan transfer from Manchester City. Her first outing for the Gunners since 2018 could not have come in a bigger contest.

Kelly was introduced off the bench – in front of 56,784 spectators at Emirates Stadium – in the 61st minute of a clash with arch-rivals Tottenham. Arsenal would go on to win that game 5-0. The returning debutant came close to netting a memorable goal, but was denied by the woodwork.

Speaking to BBC Sport afterwards, Kelly said: “I thought it was going in.” Her fellow European Championship winner Williamson, who is now a club colleague, chipped in with – in a nod to Kelly’s iconic celebration in the Euro 2022 final: “And the shirt would have come off!”

Kelly, who says the reception she received when being introduced as a second-half substitute was “flipping amazing”, is determined to earn a regular role at Arsenal after growing frustrated at her lack of opportunities with City as her contract runs down.

The 27-year-old winger added: “The challenge is always there and I am ready to fight for my shirt and I want to work hard to do so. It's all about building relationships with those players that you play together with on the field. I have settled in really well and am building those relationships already. I am just having fun.”

Arsenal sit third in the WSL table, 10 points adrift of unbeaten leaders Chelsea. Silverware may prove out of reach there, but the Gunners are into the quarter-finals of the Women’s FA Cup and Champions League, meaning that trophies are still up for grabs at home and abroad.