Chloe Kelly suffered an injury while on international duty for the Lionesses in a friendly match against Ghana, delivering a fresh blow to Arsenal. The incident occurred in the first half of the match at St Mary's, as Kelly went down clutching her right leg, appearing to have tweaked a muscle. The injury sparked immediate concern, and after receiving treatment from the England physios, she was unable to continue.

Kelly, who played a crucial role off the bench in the Lionesses' consecutive Euros victories, was given a rare start in the match against Ghana. Her early exit from the game is a significant setback, as she would have been eager to capitalize on the opportunity to impress.

Beth Mead, Kelly's teammate at Arsenal, replaced her before the half-hour mark, receiving a warm reception from the crowd. The substitution indicated that Lionesses' manager Sarina Wiegman was unwilling to risk further aggravating Kelly's injury in a friendly match.

This injury is a cause for concern for Arsenal, as they are trying to gain momentum in the Women's Super League (WSL) after a mixed start to the season. Kelly's contributions to the team have been limited this season, with just 174 minutes played across eight WSL appearances. This latest setback adds to the Gunners' worries, as they await the assessment of the injury's severity and the potential recovery timeline.

Earlier in the year, in April, Kelly had to withdraw from England's squad for the UEFA Women's Nations League fixtures against Belgium due to a foot injury. She returned to Arsenal for treatment at that time.

Kelly's return to Arsenal has been marked by both triumph and tribulation. After a period where her influence waned at Manchester City, leading to her losing her place in the starting XI and the England squad, she has experienced a resurgence. A highlight was her pivotal performances in Arsenal's European campaign. This success led to Arsenal permanently acquiring her after her contract with City expired. Arsenal saw her as a player with both a proven track record and untapped potential.

In September 2025, Kelly suffered a minor injury, described as a "knock," shortly after her permanent transfer to Arsenal. This occurred after she had an impressive start to the WSL season, scoring in Arsenal's 4-1 victory over London Lionesses. The injury caused her to miss the subsequent game against West Ham, raising concerns among Arsenal fans, although there was optimism that she would be available for the match against Manchester United.