Chloe Kelly celebrates with teammates as Arsenal thrashed Spurs 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium [Jay Patel/SPP]

AS far as homecomings go, stepping out in front of 56,784 supporters at the Emirates Stadium to help Arsenal wrap up a thumping 5-0 victory over Tottenham isn’t half bad.

And while Chloe Kelly didn’t make it onto the scoresheet during Sunday’s one-sided derby day in the Women’s Super League, it was clearly still a moment that will live long in the striker’s memory.

Some 2,815 days since her last appearance for the club, Arsenal academy graduate Kelly stepped off the substitutes’ bench on the hour-mark to make her second debut for the Gunners and soak up “an incredible” atmosphere.

It was Kelly’s first game since returning to north London on loan from Manchester City in dramatic fashion on transfer deadline day in January.

“It was absolutely amazing,” Kelly told the Arsenal website after the game. “The fans were incredible. They really showed their support and they were loud. We definitely heard them and it was amazing to step onto this pitch for this amazing club, and what a way to do it in the north London derby.

“This is what dreams are made of, to step out in a full Emirates Stadium. It’s incredible.”

And things just keep getting better and better for Kelly, who was recalled by England on Monday – albeit to replace injured teammate Beth Mead.

The forward wasn’t originally named in the Lionesses squad by manager Sarina Wiegman ahead of the upcoming Women’s Nations League matches against Portugal and Spain this month. But the 27-year-old is now back in, while Mead, who was an unused substitute in Sunday’s victory, misses out – as does Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy.

Explaining Kelly’s initial omission from the England squad, Wiegman said the player needed more game time having only played 117 minutes for parent club City since the November round of internationals.

But Kelly is now getting more minutes with the Gunners, and is ready to play her part if called upon for England, too, when they take on Portugal away tomorrow (Friday), and world champions Spain at Wembley next Wednesday.