The Ireland captain made the move across London in the summer in search of a fresh challenge after ten years with the Gunners.

And while others talked at length about her return to face them for the first time since that exit, McCabe was focused exclusively on helping earn three points for Chelsea.

‘For me it was all about us and our preparation going into the game,’ she said.

‘Obviously, we know Arsenal pose a lot of threats, and they've got a lot of quality on the ball and around the box, but it was up to us to ride the storm a little bit in the first half.

‘But once we settled in, got control of the ball, we dominated in periods and Alyssa (Thompson) took our goal really well.

‘As I said, Arsenal are a fantastic footballing team, and they're going to dominate at times, but it's what we do without the ball and how we can control the spaces.

‘And in the first part of the first half, we did it really well. In the second half, they changed formation; they put on a lot of attackers, so they were chasing the game, and we needed to stick together and grind out the result.

‘We got up the pitch, kept the ball in the corner, and sometimes it's just about playing smart. We did that and picked up the three points.’

The Arsenal fans, tucked in the corner at the far side of the East Stand, made their feelings known whenever McCabe touched the ball.

But for an experienced professional, the reception is an ordinary part of playing football and will not taint her memories of the past.

‘Having been with the club for so long, it's expected, especially going to a London rival,' she explained. 'But I have a lot of respect for the Arsenal fans.

‘We've been through a lot together, but for me, it was time for a new chapter in my career. I was really excited to come to Chelsea with the way Sonia wants to play and the quality we have in the team.

‘I'm delighted with the win, and that's most important.’

Keira Walsh had plenty of positive words to say about her Irish team-mate in her post-match interview, and McCabe duly returned those compliments with some praise of her own.

‘We absolutely controlled everything in the midfield, and credit to Keira as always,' McCabe smiled.

‘I've played against her for so long. We’ve known each other a long time. Back in the Man City, Arsenal days, which are what… ten years ago now? I always heard the English girls coming back from camp saying, "Oh, Keira's in the team, Keira's in the team," and what she offers.

‘But actually playing with her means when I give her the ball under pressure, she brings calmness and composure. She doesn't lose the ball.

‘I don't want to jinx her now, but you can't get the ball off her, and I think she's just always five steps ahead of everyone else with her vision. I like to play through the lines - Keira's always an option for me. I trust her in those tight spaces, and she can score, too!’