by Ben Gilby (21/2/24).
Above: Australia and West Ham United goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold speaking to the media earlier today. Image: Football Australia.
Mackenzie Arnold: “I feel I belong now”
Mackenzie Arnold has been part of the Matildas set-up for over a decade – but the West Ham United shot stopper revealed to the media today that it’s only been over the last few months that she finally feels like she belongs at the highest level of the game.
“I still don’t think I can really wrap my head around what we’ve done, not just for football, but for Australia too,” reflected the World Cup hero.
“I think it’s so crazy that only 12 months ago I was playing in the Cup of Nations, taking my chance and I didn’t really know what would follow. To see what we’ve done and achieved as a team, and to be a part of is something I’m so grateful for and something I will always hold close to my heart.”
The goalkeeper’s emergence as a key member of the Matildas team ran parallel to that of Clare Hunt’s fairytale journey from Western Sydney Wanderers to a World Cup semi-final and a major European move. Arnold feels a deep empathy and pride in the way the pair have become international stars together.
“When Clare stepped in, it was kind of the same time as me, and I think it feels cool for us to sort of go through those processes together, and really cement that backline together.”
After her run of sensational performances at the World Cup, and the rocketing profile she has personally and collectively as part of the Matildas, Arnold believes she has finally arrived as one of the best goalkeepers around at the top level.
“As a player I feel I’ve grown a lot, with my confidence. I believe that I belong now. I’ve been here for 10-plus years now, and it’s only in the last year or so I’ve really cemented my spot, so I’m confident now and feel like I belong.”
The 29-year-old’s World Cup experiences led to the honour of being named as West Ham United’s new captain going into the WSL season and the goalkeeper underlined how she now sees herself as someone to assist with the development of the next generation of top players, in the same way that teammates aided her when she was making her way in the game.
“It’s definitely a new challenge. I’ve always wanted to be a leader, and I feel the last four years at West Ham have been leading towards that, and I feel I’m someone that the girls can look up to. We’ve got quite a young team. In the past, I always liked to look up to someone. It’s such a privilege to lead West Ham out and something I hope will continue for many years.”
Whilst the Matildas will go into this two-legged tie as red-hot favourites to take the spot in the Olympic Games, Arnold knows that Uzbekistan pose a new and unique challenge. Patience will be the watchword.
“We’ve never really versed Uzbekistan before, we’ve been working closely with the coaching team, focussing on ourselves and seeing what it brings…We need to stay switched on. It’s quite easy to lose focus in these types of games, especially as a goalkeeper and you don’t get as much of the ball. Just making sure we’re staying with the play, leading with the ball, communicating with each other. You never really know what will happen in these sorts of games.”
Kaitlyn Torpey: “It’s a dream”
It’s been an incredible couple of weeks for 23-year-old defender Kaitlyn Torpey. A record transfer fee paid by San Diego Wave to transfer her to the NWSL has been followed by her first senior Matildas call-up.
“I’m loving it. It’s been such an eye-opening experience for me,” the centre-back said. “It’s crazy to see how big of a difference the level is, and how much more intense it is…you have to make decisions quicker, in general, the fitness is a lot more.
Torpey further emphasised the step-up required to flourish at the international level when she revealed: “It’s always going to be a shock to the system, especially we did an internal game today. Everyone was like ‘that was pretty easy’, but I was, like ‘ooh it was quite hard!'”
However, the former Melbourne City defender outlined just how much being part of the U23 set-up has prepared her for the more technical nature of game plans and what can be expected of her on the pitch. She spoke warmly of the influence of both Mel Andreatta and Tony Gustavsson on the success of that pathway.
“It was massive Mel tried to give across the game plan of how they want to play – how the Matildas play and its been way easier to quickly learn the set-up here. Obviously back with Mel and Tony…I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for U23. Bridging the pathway to the Matildas has been so much better.”
It’s not just the coaches that Torpey has been learning from. San Diego’s newest signing knows she has some of the world’s best players in her position around her in the shape of Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter – and she is drinking in every possible piece of knowledge they can provide her with.
“It’s a dream, and it’s been very overwhelming since I’ve been here, but I’ve tried to relax as much as possible and take it all in. I want to be as present as possible and learn from everyone here. You are also surrounded by such amazing players, and you don’t realise how good they are until you see them in training…I’m asking the girls what I can improve on and what they need from me in this environment.”
Torpey believes that this call-up has come at a unique time – and one she wants to make the most of as she rides on the wave of World Cup inspiration. “I’m really hoping to get some game time…but I’m so excited to see what it’s like with a full sellout crowd. The biggest crowd I’ve played against is around 2,000, maybe 11,000, but this is nothing compared to this. In the World Cup I was sitting in the stands, now I’m a part of it.
“I’m really fortunate to come in now after what the girls did at the World Cup…and hopefully cement my spot in here. For young girls to come up into this and see the potential of what they’ve brought for Australia, but also what you can do as a player, and I think I’m in that stage now where I’m good enough to be here, but I can see the level I need to be to start competing with these players and the level up…I’m very fortunate to be here at this time.”
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