‘She absolutely deserves it’ – West Ham boss Skinner discusses Arnold’s FIFA nomination | OneFootball

West Ham United manager Rehanne Skinner says that goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold thoroughly deserves her place amongst the finalists for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper Award 2023.

Arnold has made the final three-player shortlist for the award alongside Manchester United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps and FC Barcelona and Spain stopper Catalina Coll.

In the last calendar year, Arnold helped Australia to a fourth-place finish at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, their best-ever performance at that tournament. The keeper has also played a leading role for West Ham United, her experience proving to be a huge asset for a young Hammers side.

When speaking to WSL Full-Time about Arnold’s nomination, West Ham United manager Skinner said that the player thoroughly deserves to be in the running for the award.

“It’s acknowledging what a wonderful year she has had,” Skinner said. “Her performances speak for themselves.

“From a club perspective, up until the injury, this is the most consistent that she has been, so it is showing in every part of what she is doing.

“She’s really embraced being the captain of the team. It was something that she wanted to do more in terms of a leadership role and she has been 100 percent ready for that. That’s helped with her performances as well.

“Her performance in the penalty shootout in that game [against France] is definitely one of the things that people will be making waves about. I don’t know of many goalkeepers that save a penalty twice from the same player in a shootout at home under that kind of pressure, it was a phenomenal set of saves back-to-back.

“She’s grown so much in the way that she plays and thinks about the game. Her decision-making has gone up another level this season and her distribution enabling us to play in lots of different ways is a massive asset. The way that she is driving the team forward and doing the work behind the scenes is testament which won’t be a part of the nomination but it absolutely should be mentioned.

“She absolutely deserves it [the nomination] and the people that she is up against, Mary [Earps] in particular, has been outstanding and consistent. It’s going to be a real battle for the accolade but I’m delighted for her, she deserves it.”

The Year 2023 was a transitional one for West Ham United but Arnold’s qualities consistently shone through. Skinner went on to say that the player’s nomination can make the club an attractive proposition for potential new signings and highlights the good work that goes on behind-the-scenes.

She said “As long as you’re playing and you’re playing well, your country will pick you up and will see what you’re doing and what you’re doing effectively.

“As I said, she’s playing really well. Players attract players, so when people see that she is able to compete like that and still get acknowledged….it is about playing in the best league. To be the best player in the world, you have to be playing in the best league. For anyone aspiring to that, this league is definitely one. We are a football club in that league, we are driving things to a new level in such a big football club like West Ham. We are in a transition period but we will absolutely be competing with all of those clubs in a short period of time and that’s important.

“It definitely helps with what she has achieved, it shows that we are doing things right here because she has developed significantly, she’s improved in the four seasons that she has been here. That’s something that other people can get onboard with.”

The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper will be crowned at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 in London on Monday 15 January 2024.