After a tentative first 45 minutes during which both sides cancelled each other out, the deadlock was broken just shy of the hour mark. Kim Little dispatched from the spot on 57 minutes, but there was still time for the Blues to regroup and push for an equaliser.

As the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, substitute Jelena Cankovic produced a perfectly weighted in swinging cross from the right which curled perfectly into the path of Kerr, who rose highest to guide a powerful header beyond Manuela Zinsberger to salvage a hugely valuable point away from home.

Speaking after a frantic finale, our Australian forward acknowledged the challenge of facing Arsenal in the first game back after the winter break. She credited the overall efforts of the team and highlighted the impact made by our substitutes.

‘I’m relieved that we got the late goal,' Kerr said. 'It’s not easy to come here and start the year against Arsenal at the Emirates in front of a massive crowd. We have to be really happy with the point. We didn’t play at our best the whole game, we had moments where we showed how good we are.

‘It was a real team performance, all the players that came off the bench were great. Although we’d like to win every game, you’ve got to be realistic and the draw was probably a fair result.’

It was a tactical opening 45 minutes with neither side able to find a breakthrough. We were calm at the break, but the hosts were awarded a penalty near to the hour mark which Little converted confidently, one of two key moments which Kerr believes led to a fair result.

‘They had momentum, we had momentum. It was a cagey game, there was so much on the line. At half-time, it was really positive. There were a few things we could change but we thought we were doing quite well, other than one or two things.

‘The game was really cagey the whole time, there were only going to be one or two moments and that’s why I think the draw is fair.’

Having fallen behind, we had goalkeeper Zecira Musovic to thank for making a handful of important saves to keep the game within reach. However, it was a moment of quality in the final third which saw Cankovic and Kerr combine for the latter to score and celebrate in style.

‘Jelena [Cankovic] put a really good ball in. I’d been waiting for some service into the box, we played a little bit too much maybe. When I saw she was looking up to play it I thought this is me, I’m getting on the end of it.

‘As for the celebration, this is what football is about. I absolutely loved the Arsenal fans giving it to us and we had an amazing crowd there. This is what football is about, what makes rivalries. Everyone loves the Arsenal versus Chelsea derby. It’s a bit of fun and entertainment. It’s all in good heart, it’s part of the game and part of the entertainment of playing a London derby.’

There was special recognition from Kerr towards our supporters who packed out the away end at the Emirates on Sunday. She was full of praise for the fans and believes they played a pivotal role in driving us towards a vital point.

‘There were some Aussie fans down near where I celebrated which was nice! Our fans are amazing, it’s such a nice feeling when you walk out the tunnel and they’re waving all their flags.

‘It might seem little to them but to us, it makes us feel so great when we walk out and see that sea of blue. We always feel the love and they give us the boost when we need it. They got us over the line today.’