Analysis: Why Matildas are big winners in Kyra Cooney-Cross move to Arsenal
Kyra Cooney-Cross was courted by European football’s biggest clubs — but her ultimate decision to move to the north of London will have big ramifications for Australia.
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It could have been Chelsea, Lyon or even Manchester United but Kyra Cooney-Cross choosing to join Arsenal is the best possible outcome for the Matildas.
Cooney-Cross will now be training and playing week in and week out with fellow Matildas Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley in what is arguably the best domestic women’s football competition in the world.
The trio form a key part of the national side with Catley in the backline, Cooney-Cross the midfield and Foord on the wing or at striker.
Having players of the national team play together domestically at that level is not something the Matildas have had before.
With the A-Leagues women’s competition only semi-professional, our top players are left with no option but to play overseas.
Our players are spread across six different leagues: the A-Leagues’ Womens, Swedish league, American NWSL, England’s WSL, French women’s and the Spanish Liga F.
It is one of the key differences between the Matildas and the top-ranked women’s teams.
Take the USA – who while they underperformed at this World Cup have been a powerhouse, winning the previous two tournaments and having top FIFA rankings for years.
All but one of the 23-woman American squad play their domestic football in the American league.
The Spanish, the winners of this year’s Cup, have their players spread across just a couple of clubs.
England, the reigning European champions, have large parts of their playing group playing together at Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Cooney-Cross is the newest addition of the three to the Matildas, with just 35 appearances – seven of which were at the FIFA Women’s World Cup – so a chance to build her relationship with Catley and Foord can only increase the chemistry between the trio and improve their on-field performance.
Foord had just one goal at the World Cup, with her teammates often more focused on finding Sam Kerr when she returned in the later stages of the tournament.
If Cooney-Cross can form a bond and an understanding with Catley and Foord the Matildas could unleash a brand new attacking force that literally runs from one end of the pitch to the other.
As it stands there are now 11 Matildas playing in the English women’s competition, proving that our footballers are among the best in the world.
While there might only be three at Arsenal, having 11 in the competition means they are at least playing against each other regularly.
These clashes are just as important as playing on the same team – it keeps them familiar with each other’s playing styles.
It can only be a positive thing with an Olympics looming in Paris next year.
Arsenal’s first game will be against Liverpool on October 1.
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Originally published as Analysis: Why Matildas are big winners in Kyra Cooney-Cross move to Arsenal
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