Chloe Kelly is getting her timing right as she bids to be England’s Euros hero again, writes TARA ANSON-WALSH

If there’s one thing Chloe Kelly will be seeking more of in the coming months, it’s time.

Time on the pitch. Time to find her rhythm in an Arsenal shirt. Time to reconnect with the teammates she’s long played alongside with England – connections she now hopes to build at the club level.

With the countdown to the Euros in July underway, time will become both her ally and her rival, with every minute crucial.

Kelly is, without question, an icon of the women’s game, forever etched in history for her extra-time goal that brought the first major international trophy to these shores since 1966.

Hear the roar at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night when the winger’s number flashed up on the official’s board and her name remains synonymous with that great evening under the same famous arch three years ago.

A player for the big moments — notably her thunderous penalty at the 2023 World Cup which surpassed the fastest spot strike by any Premier League player that season — Kelly’s drop off from the highest of heights has been alarming.

The 27-year-old has found a new lease of life since moving to her childhood club Arsenal

Chloe Kelly provided the iconic moment — and image — of the Euro 2022 triumph when the forward scored England’s extra-time winner against Germany and celebrated in style

How that happened quite so drastically under Gareth Taylor at Manchester City is complex, but the stats go some way to explain it — they show that she has not scored for club or country in five months, since her opener against Paris FC in a Champions League qualifier last September.

Her last assist for City was in the FA Cup against third-tiered Ipswich Town and as for the league, she hasn’t managed a goal involvement this season at all.

What became evident at City was that as her performances declined, Kelly found herself relegated to a bit-part role under Taylor and this limited playing time only added more pressure to perform when she did get on the pitch.

Confidence is vital in football, and Kelly’s desire to prove herself — while Sarina Wiegman was reminding her and the world that she was running out credit — only seemed to intensify the situation.

As word of a falling out with Taylor began to spread, Kelly began to push for a move to rivals Manchester United, with her camp suggesting she was being kept at City against her will. The club maintained they were merely waiting for the right offer to arrive at their door.

Then, at the crucial moment, a door cracked open, and it appears she has Arsenal boss Renee Slegers to thank.

Slegers revealed that she had an open and honest conversation with Kelly, and the result of that discussion brought the Lioness to north London. ‘We both opened up,’ Slegers said at the time. 

‘I tried to open up about what Arsenal is and what she could mean for us, and she opened up about what she can bring to us and what her ambitions are. It was a very good conversation.’

Things turned sour for Chloe Kelly at Manchester City under manager Gareth Taylor (right)

Chloe Kelly fires in a shot during Arsenal’s 5-0 demolition of Tottenham earlier this month

Kelly has a smile back on her face as she enjoys England’s 1-0 win over Spain with Millie Bright

Those close to Arsenal say she returned to the club with a smile, and her transition has been eased by her familiarity with many of the faces around her, having played alongside them for England.

Originally from Ealing, Kelly’s first ever appearance in the top-flight came with the Gunners, five years after joining their academy at 12 years old.

When rumours swirled on deadline day about a potential loan move, Beth Mead and Leah Williamson sent messages to staff asking if Kelly was ‘coming home’. And that’s how everyone at the club regards her return, a homecoming.

By this point, time had run out for Kelly under Wiegman, who dropped her from the England squad a few days later. ‘Start playing and show what you’re about, and then we’ll have that conversation again’, the England boss said. And five days later, Kelly did exactly that.

With a huge smile on her face and her trademark three huge strides as she marched onto the pitch, Kelly, 27, followed up her grand return to north London with a hugely promising first display, threading a ball in for Stina Blackstenius to attack, whipping in corners, and rattling the crossbar late on.

The following day her Arsenal teammate Beth Mead withdrew from the England camp due to injury and Kelly was the first back in. Intriguingly, Wiegman called upon Kelly ahead of other players she has previously used on the right wing in Mead’s absence, including City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown and Tottenham’s Jess Naz, a testament to the England boss’ ongoing vote of confidence.

While Kelly struggled to make any great impact off the bench in either of the Nations League games, particularly after being given half-an-hour against the world champions, hope remains for the winger.

Slegers clearly rates her and if her short cameo during her second debut for Arsenal is anything to go by, the culture in north London may be exactly she needs to reignite her career.

Only time will tell whether this move will be enough to secure her place on the plane to Switzerland this summer, but one thing is for sure: time now finally seems to be on her side.