Mackenzie Arnold is back on home soil for the first time in 2023, as Australia prepare to host the second edition of the Cup of Nations in Sydney.
For the Hammers shot-stopper, it will be the first time that she is back with her country since October, having missed the November international break due to injury.
It is the first time that the friendly tournament has taken place since the COVID-19 Pandemic, with the last competition featuring South Korea, New Zealand and The Matildas’ near neighbours, New Zealand, in 2019.
This time around, they will face off against UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 quarter-finalists, Spain, as well as the Czech Republic and Jamaica, with the latter without the Barclays Women’s Super League’s top goalscorer, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, who has withdrawn from the squad citing personal reasons.
Speaking to the media and the Matildas Official Website before flying out to Australia, Arnold believes that the tournament will provide very good preparation for what this summer’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be like, which is being hosted across Australia and New Zealand throughout July and August.
“The Cup of Nations is going to be very important for us,” Arnold explained.
“Especially the format, playing every two-three days – which is what the World Cup is going to offer.
“Having different opponents as well, that’s something that we don’t get to play against every day. It’s very good preparation for us for the World Cup and hopefully, we can take advantage of that.”
The Matildas are currently ranked 12th in the FIFA Rankings, and will be hoping to climb up those standings before the World Cup, which will see them face off in tricky group stage ties against Canada, Nigeria and the Republic of Ireland.
Arnold is also particularly excited about linking up with her international teammates – the Hammers No1 missed the previous camp after sustaining an injury, subsequently causing her to miss Barclays WSL clashes against Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion too.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back into camp, back with the team, and working towards the World Cup in these crucial games,” she confirmed. “We don’t have that many games left now to be together and work on our game plan.
“I’m really looking forward to it – we’ll see what happens over the next week or so!"
Arnold is heading into the Matildas camp alongside 13 other players who ply their trade in England’s top division.
And the goalkeeper is heading into the break in decent form too, having picked up the Player of the Match trophy in a superb 0-0 draw with Arsenal in West Ham’s final league outing before the break.
It was the Irons' first ever point against the Gunners, a game in which she played against international teammates Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord, keeping a number of efforts out from the latter on the night.
“It felt good, to be honest! - The whole team deserved to come away with the point.”
“We were under a lot of pressure in the second half, but thankfully we held it together and got a really important point against a tough side," she concluded.
A total of eleven West Ham United players are currently away with their National sides during the February international break. Read all about who has been called up in our 'All You Need To Know' guide!
