The Gunners in Town: What Arsenal’s postseason trip Down Under can mean for Australian football

As Arsenal prepare for a post-season trip Down Under, much is being said in regards to the Gunners’ decision to participate in an exhibition clash with the Liberty A-League All Stars at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium. 

The fixture will see the Gunners travel to Melbourne after their final leg of the Barclays Women’s Super League season, gearing up to line up against a collated team of players from Australia’s top-flight women’s league, tomorrow Friday, (May 25) (May 24 UK time).

A notable cause for concern has arisen in the form of load management, as discussions of validity heat up surrounding the 14 days that separate Arsenal’s final fixture of the WSL, and the commencement of the European Qualifiers to be played on May 31.

Arsenal’s trip Down Under falls directly in between the two scheduled events, as many criticise the strain this may have on the squad as they prepare for a summer of football ahead.

Appreciating the concerns surrounding potential issues this may cause, it is important to discuss the brilliance Arsenal’s plan to travel to Melbourne will involve for women’s football in Australia.

As the dust began to settle on what was a record-breaking FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, an excitable buzz still filtered through the nation of green and gold off the back of a stellar campaign from their Matildas.

Those still reeling with the excitement from the festivities brought on by Tillies Fever, found themselves searching for a greater fix beyond the confines of the home tournament. 

Thus, their attention turned cross-country, and toward the WSL. The fan-named ‘Ausenal’ have taken the most voters, as Australia midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross made her summer arrival to join compatriots Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley in North London. 

The World Cup efforts saw football take a new lease in the nation of Australia, as a sport that has historically garnered so little attention, has finally begun to turn heads. As Aussies rush to grab their ‘Ausenal’ shirt off the racks in shops, the post-season friendly provides a golden opportunity for women’s football in Australia.

In a nation where the likes of Aussie rules, rugby league, and cricket to only name a few, dominate the attention of Australians across the country, the arrival of Arsenal’s profile will be sure to boost the recognition that football so greatly deserves.

As well as the excitement that surrounds the arrival of the Gunners Down Under, the friendly fixture provides the priceless opportunity that spectators, perhaps coming to witness an episode of the Cooney-Cross show, will also be exposed to a calibre of A-League players that they may normally ignore. 

As fans pile through the turnstiles of the Docklands stadium in hopes of watching an electric Alessia Russo, many spectators will tune in to those marking her, and cast their attention toward the footballing talent so very accessible to them, in their very back yard.

Amidst the rising discussions of the post-season trip, one thing is certain: Arsenal will act as a vessel of inspiration in the promotion of the Liberty A-League, a league of exciting talent that is too often overlooked in the nation of Australia.

This article first appeared in issue one of the Gooner Fanzine's digital only Arsenal Women edition 

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