Malard reunited with Bompastor eyes Chelsea legacy before Arsenal derby

Melvine Malard will experience her first Stamford Bridge derby against Arsenal on Sunday, arriving at the fixture in the middle of what has already been a landmark year for the French forward.

A wedding in June, a big-money move to Chelsea and a Ballon d'Or nomination have all come within months of each other, according to Guardian Football, and Malard makes little effort to hide how content she is with where her career has taken her.

The move to west London has also reunited her with Sonia Bompastor, the Chelsea manager who, according to the same report, was the figure who first urged Malard to leave her home on the Indian Ocean island of Réunion to pursue football seriously.

That relationship now continues at Stamford Bridge, with Bompastor overseeing the squad Malard has joined and the pair working together again as Chelsea look to build on their standing at the top of the domestic game.

Guardian Football describes Malard as rarely seen without a grin, and the personality behind it is said to connect instantly with teammates around her.

Asked what keeps her in such good spirits, Malard did not immediately point to silverware or reputation. "Goals," she said, with a laugh, before turning serious.

"Seriously though, it's seeing the kids, the families, my family, in the stands. It is crazy. I love my life, I love my job, I'm happy with my wife and everything is good. I smile because of those things, because I'm happy."

The derby against Arsenal will be Malard's first taste of the fixture at Stamford Bridge, a stage that sits alongside the wedding, the transfer and the individual recognition as part of a year she describes in almost disbelieving terms.

For Chelsea and Bompastor, the visit of Arsenal offers another opportunity to see whether the forward they brought back into the manager's orbit can add derby-day substance to a season already rich in personal milestones.