Kelly helps Arsenal complete comeback win over WSL upstarts London City

No-one could ignore the noise London City made earlier this week when reports suggested they had broken the world record for a women’s transfer by signing France midfielder Grace Geyoro from Paris Saint-Germain. The fee may actually be closer to £1m, but backed by the US billionaire Michele Kang, it would hardly be a shock if London City do break the record in the near future, with the club moving at speed since Kang’s purchase two years ago when they were on the verge of bankruptcy.

Kang last season persuaded Kosovare Asllani, the opening scorer at the Emirates from the penalty spot, and manager Jocelyn Prêcheur to leave teams regularly competing in the Champions League and join London City, who are without an affiliated men’s team, in the second tier of English football.

By bringing Katie Zelem back to the WSL from Angel City FC – a double signing alongside Alanna Kennedy – and recruiting Daniëlle van de Donk from Lyon, they believe they have added the necessary experience. The hope will be that Nikita Parris can continue her goalscoring success having hit 12 in 28 games for Brighton last season, while London City openly pursued Arsenal forward Beth Mead, which gave this game extra spice.

Out of the new recruits – 16 players have joined on permanent deals, while the French defender Wassa Sangaré has signed on loan from Lyon – Prêcheur included 10 new signings, with six starting. Ambition is one thing, but cohesion? That can take time. Kennedy at one point in the first half sent a promising pass out to the right wing only to find there was no one there.

But the visitors did start well, pressing effectively, with Saki Kumagai building attacks from deep and Rofiat Imuran looking comfortable at left-back. Asllani, after being fouled in the box by Arsenal’s Katie Reid, tucked the penalty into the corner. Suddenly, on their big debut in front of a crowd of more than 38,000, London City began to dream a little bigger.

The only issue was that Arsenal also made a significant purchase this summer. With half an hour gone, Olivia Smith, the club’s new £1m signing from Liverpool, and Chloe Kelly swapped wings. Drifting off the left into a central position, Smith collected Steph Catley’s pass, swerved around María Pérez, and unleashed a thunderbolt from outside the box.

Starting the season without the England captain Leah Williamson, who walked out onto the field wearing a knee brace to present the Champions League trophy to the crowd before kick-off, the target for Arsenal this season is obvious enough having finished 12 points adrift last season: catch Chelsea.

Arsenal pose such a threat going forward with Kelly and Smith cutting in off their wings and Alessia Russo leading the line. The England striker – fresh from signing a new contract – set up Kelly for Arsenal’s second right before half-time. Introduce Mead and Stina Blackstenius off the bench and tiring defences will struggle.

Elene Lete made a string of impressive saves in the second half as Arsenal piled on the pressure and was eventually beaten after the break when Mead set up goals in a couple of minutes for Blackstenius and Frida Maanum. Their only moment of concern was Kelly’s challenge from behind on Parris, which received a yellow card.

Reeling in rivals Chelsea after they finished last season unbeaten is a steep challenge, and Arsenal will need to be close to perfect to win a first league title since 2019. After a mild early scare, they passed this first test.

For Kang, Prêcheur and this ambitious London City club, starting your inaugural WSL campaign at the champions of Europe was always a daunting prospect. “They will cause some problems in the league,” said the Arsenal manager, Renée Slegers. By the time they return here next season, the gap may have closed.

Photograph by John Walton/PA Wire