Matildas goalkeeper Arnold standing tall at WWC

Anna Harrington | July 23, 2023

Concentration is the key for Mackenzie Arnold.

The Matildas goalkeeper made her Women’s World Cup debut at her third such tournament in Thursday’s 1-0 win over Ireland.

While rarely challenged, with Ireland mostly sitting back, Arnold stood tall when required to ensure Australia kept a clean sheet.

That included a last-ditch save in the dying second of added time to preserve three points.

“It was just really important for me to stay switched on, try and stay in the game as much as I can, communicate with the back line whatever it is that can keep myself in the game,” Arnold told reporters.

“Because like you saw in the last 20 minutes, it’s just important to stay in the game.”

West Ham shotstopper Arnold made a late charge at becoming Australia’s No.1 and having claimed it, has grabbed her opportunity and run with it.

“Macca stands up in the times that we need her,” defender Clare Hunt told reporters.

“A lot of the time she’s probably not getting utilised because they’re not having many attacks.

“So when she does need to do her job, she stands exceptionally tall for us and we’re so lucky to have someone like her behind us.”

Arnold’s cool head, aerial strength and timing will be crucial, with Hunt and Alanna Kennedy only two games into their partnership, while coach Tony Gustavsson deployed a back five late.

“It’s been really good. It’s been two games together now and two clean sheets, so it speaks for itself,” Arnold said.

“But I am even quite new playing with Alanna as well. I think we’re working really well together and we understand each other and communicate really well. So it helps.”

The Matildas also overcame the setback of losing brilliant captain Sam Kerr to a calf injury, the day before the Ireland game, that will rule her out of at least one more match.

“We obviously would have loved Sam to be out there and it’s really unfortunate that she wasn’t but I think we handled it well,” Arnold said.

Queenslander Arnold, 29, is set to play in front of a home crowd at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium against Nigeria next Thursday.

“I’m feeling good. Obviously getting a clean sheet first game of the World Cup we can take all the confidence in that into the next game,” she said.

“I’ve played at Suncorp before so hopefully we’ll sell this one out.

“But I’m excited. Obviously my home state, it’s been a while since I played there. So I’m looking forward to it.”