With Arsenal cruising when Kelly was introduced, she slotted into a free-flowing frontline and created opportunities.
She hit the crossbar with a dinked effort late on, shortly after the crowd cheered as she made her way to the corner flag to take a set-piece.
Before coming on, fans were on their feet in anticipation, watching the fourth official as manager Renee Slegers spoke to Kelly on the touchline.
“My final message was, ‘Enjoy it, you get your welcome back in an Arsenal shirt and it is a very special occasion, so enjoy it’,” said Slegers.
“She has been smiling a lot in training and working really hard. She’s passionate as a person. You can see she’s smiling a lot and is very happy with where she’s at.
“I think that’s important, that you have players in a good place, [who] feel good and feel motivated. That is when you get the most out of yourself.”
Kelly was in high spirits at full-time, walking around the pitch smiling and laughing with England captain Leah Williamson.
On hitting the bar, she said: “I thought it was going in.”
Williamson joked: “And the shirt would have come off!”
It has not been plain sailing for Kelly since her iconic celebration – when she took off her Lionesses shirt and waved it around her head seconds after scoring the winning goal in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium.
But she is enjoying her football again.
“The challenge is always there and I am ready to fight for my shirt and I want to work hard to do so,” added Kelly.
“It’s all about building relationships with those players that you play together with on the field.
“I have settled in really well and am building those relationships already. I am just having fun.”
