Rachel Yankey reflects on Chloe Kelly’s Arsenal return and her visit to Lauren James’ old school

RACHEL YANKEY wants Arsenal to remain a happy hunting ground for Chloe Kelly, with the forward back amongst the goals. 

And the Gunners legend hopes the club can return to trophy glory in Europe.

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Rachel Yankey hopes Chloe Kelly can continue shining for Arsenal[/caption]

On March 7 Yankey and Ian Wright took part in the FA’s and Barclays’ Biggest Ever Football Session event at Lauren James’ old school in Twickenham

Along with fellow Gunners icon Yankey hopes to encourage more girls to participate in football

Yankey, who took part in the FA’s and Barclays’ fourth Biggest Ever Football Session on Friday, was speaking before Arsenal’s FA Cup clash with Liverpool. 

Today the Gunners host the Reds in a quarter-final duel with the Cup remaining one of their strongest chances of silverware this term. 

The clash comes seven days after Kelly, 27, netted her first league goal this this year during Arsenal’s 4-3 defeat of West Ham .

It was also her first since sealing a January loan move from Manchester City in pursuit of more game time and a spot in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad for the Euros.  

Yankey, 45, has fond memories of Kelly’s early days as a senior Arsenal player. 

The versatile winger, who won 22 trophies during her 15-year Gunners career, was on the pitch when she made her first Arsenal debut at 17 in 2015. 

In July that year Kelly scored during a 3-0 League Cup match defeat of Watford. 

Yankey, who also netted in that game, said: “I remember her as a youngster coming through and the potential that she had.

“It was clear to see that she’s talented.

“She’s made the move because she wants to get into the England team (for the Euros).

“And I hope that she can get into that England team and perform because we all know what a fantastic player she is. 

“Chloe with a smile on her face playing football is where I see her at the moment.

“If she’s happy, then that’s a good thing.”

With Kelly cup tied her Gunners pals hope to reach this year’s FA Cup semis ahead of a WSL trip to Everton on March 14.

While the forward cannot feature in today’s encounter she can play in the Champions League quarters as well as the Gunners’ last seven WSL fixtures this term. 

The team are set to face Real Madrid in the contest’s last eight with the first leg away on March 18.

And Yankey, who helped Arsenal become the first English club to win the Women’s Champions League in 2007, hopes the team can triumph in Europe again. 

The former England play, who has 129 caps,  added: “We saw from the Lionesses’ Euros win, if you win a major tournament or if you win a Champions League or the league, success brings you an audience. 

“For me, historically, Arsenal Football Club is the biggest in women’s football, so they need to win something.”

Before today’s match and ahead of International Women’s Day Yankey paid a visit to Lauren James’ old secondary school in Twickenham.

Along with fellow Gunners icon Ian Wright, Yankey ran a football session encouraging girls to get involved in the sport.

Last year 475,000 girls took part in similar events in 5,000 schools across the country.

This year’s session took place a week after the FA’s launch of the Made for this Game campaign which aims to provide more chances for women and girls to participate in football.

James, who began her senior career at Arsenal in 2017 before joining Manchester United a year later and then switching to Chelsea in 2021, is one of the most high profile players in the WSL. 

Since her return to London almost four years ago, the forward has won three league title with the Blues and two FA Cups.  

In 2023 James was part of an England side that competed in a World Cup final for the first time in the team’s history with the team narrowly beaten 1-0 by Spain. 

Since that final was played in Sydney Australia she is one of five players from Black and mixed race heritage to have featured for the Lionesses. 

The other players are Brighton and Tottenham forwards Nikita Parris and Jess Naz and Man United and Gotham defenders Gabby George and Jess Carter. 

Yankey hopes events like the Biggest Ever Football Session will encourage  more girls from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds getting involved in the sport.  

Yankey said: “If we don’t do projects like this then who knows where the next grassroots ethnic minority player will come from.

“Sessions like this give girls the opportunity to get involved and that’s why it’s so important.”

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Aside from playing football Yankey hopes to see more girls get involved in other aspects of the sport[/caption]

By 2028 the FA hopes to have 90 per cent of schools providing girls with equal opportunities to play football in curricular and extracurricular set-ups.

And beyond encourage more girls to play the game, Yankey hopes the FA’s efforts can influence them to get involved in the sport in other ways. 

She adds: “We need to make sure we educate the young girls, their parents, and everybody, that football and sport can be so powerful in helping people in different ways in their life.”