A-League Women’s All Stars vs. Arsenal: Blockbuster clash set to be a major ‘eye-opener’ for local stars

Caitlin Foord’s Arsenal side will take on an A-League Women’s All Stars team in Melbourne this year – and the match will make one thing very clear.

The Arsenal and A-League’s Women’s All Stars game will be a blockbuster event for fans but what it will really show is the massive gap between the Australian domestic league and the English Women’s Super League.

Matildas recently elevated captain Steph Catley, striker Caitlin Foord and midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross all play for Arsenal.

Between them the trio have played more than 180 A-Leagues women’s games and won eight titles.

A lot has changed since they last played in the league – such as the introduction of a full home and away season, better facilities, improved crowd attendances and increased pay but there is still one major gap that puts the WSL in a league of its own – full-time contracts.

Catley, Cooney-Cross and Foord are contracted year-round.

They don’t have to juggle jobs at fast food restaurants, retail outlets, as teacher aides or personal trainers to make ends meet – they can put 100 per cent of their focus into their football.

Kyra Cooney-Cross will head down under with Arsenal this year. Picture: Getty

So while the A-Leagues All Stars team will feature a number of past and present Matildas players; with Cortnee Vine, Tameka Yallop, Chloe Logarzo (pending injury), Michelle Heyman, Alex Chidiac and Emily Gielnik likely call-ups, it is unfair to expect the All Stars to be on the same level as Arsenal.

Simply because Arsenal’s players get to live and breathe nothing but football all day, every day.

Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who has been out of action for Melbourne Victory with an injury, said she supported anything that highlighted women’s football.

Williams, who played in the WSL for Brighton & Hove Albion last season, said the toll of the long trip over could slightly level the playing field.

“It’s going to be A-League W wanting to prove themselves against one of the best clubs in the world,” she said.

Melbourne Victory keeper Lydia Williams makes a save when at Brighton and Hove Albion. Picture: Getty

Regardless of how much the jet lag impacts Arsenal though, Williams said the level of professionalism between the A-League’s women’s and the WSL was massive.

“It’s a huge beast that Arsenal have,” Williams said.

“We definitely want to see that in Australia but I think it’s going to be eye opening in a lot of ways of what we need to achieve and what we can achieve when we take those steps.”

There is likely to be a number of rising stars given a chance to play in the All Stars team such as City’s Daniela Galic and Perth’s Hanah Lowry. Williams said coming up against a side like Arsenal could spur the up and comers to chase an overseas contract.

“Seeing what it takes to be at the level of professionalism and play for a huge club like that might ignite some fires in their bellies to go and pursue, what life might be in a European country or a big club like Arsenal,” Williams said.

Cortnee Vine is an Australian World Cup hero – and a superstar in the A-Leagues. Picture: Getty

The APL, who are desperate for a cash boost, will see this clash and the game between Newcastle United and the men’s A-League All Stars team, as an economic win.

APL Independent Chair Stephen Conroy said the hope was to help the bank balance.

“Obviously we work in partnership and we would hope to boost the finances,” Conroy said.

“There’s commercial confidences we can’t talk about, but we expect to get a good return.

“We want to see this as a regular event, I’m already getting briefed on what we’ve got planned for next year.”

But instead of focusing on the cash injection the APL should be seeing this match as a wake-up call.

It will be proof of what investing in the women’s game can actually deliver.

Evidence of what can happen when women are given the same opportunities as men.

Arsenal’s women’s team has averaged 34,997 fans a game this WSL season. Across the league the average is 7478 a week.

The average attendance for a women’s A-League game this season is 2175.

This game will make it clear A-League’s women’s need to move to full-time professional contracts next season if they want to match it with the best in the world.

It’s time to capitalise on the huge growth in support for women’s football and back our Aussie players so they can be the best they can.

The A-League women’s All Stars will play Arsenal at Marvel Stadium on May 24.

Originally published as A-League Women’s All Stars vs. Arsenal: Blockbuster clash set to be a major ‘eye-opener’ for local stars