Matildas superstar still can't get used to 'insane' cereal box moment

Arnold has been selected as an "Aussie icon" ambassador for Milo and its new strawberry-flavoured cereal that the goalkeeper actually helped develop.

Before she was a world-class goalkeeper, Arnold hadn't seen women in sport given such promotion, but with the onset of the "Matildas effect" following the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia, athletes like her hold influence like never before.

Tickets to Matildas games are in demand, the players' own social media accounts have massive followings, contracts now attract higher salaries, and the sporting participation boom inspired by the Matildas in recent years - particularly for girls and women - is well-documented.

So it makes sense brands would want to align themselves with top women athletes like Arnold, who is currently playing for US club, Portland Thorns FC.

Still, from humble beginnings in the old W-League playing in front of small crowds, to selling out stadiums and becoming a hero to millions of Aussie kids, it's a bit of an adjustment for Arnold to see her face on products at the supermarket.

"It's insane," she told The Canberra Times from Portland during a mid-season international break.

"Growing up seeing other athletes on cereal boxes, you never really think that's going to be you, and now I get it to do it with Milo as well, which is something I always grew up on - it's pretty surreal to me.

"I still don't look at myself as an Australian icon.

"Opportunities like this just came after the World Cup, and I think it really showed us, and little girls and boys as well, what actually is possible now.

"When I was a kid, I don't really remember women athletes on cereal boxes, so to be that person and hopefully inspire the younger generation after me is really special."

Arnold has seen firsthand how the Matildas' march to the Women's World Cup semi-final two years ago was a turning point.

"The world has really taken off with women's sport," she said.

"You can see at the Euros that are playing at the moment, the amount of exposure they're getting and publicity - it's crazy to see, and I think it's only going to get bigger.

"I would have loved to have been a young kid coming through at this stage, for sure. Still got a long way to go, but it's definitely heading in the right direction."

In the Arnold household, as a child, the glovewoman used to have arguments with her brother over which flavour was best - chocolate or strawberry. She'd go for a strawberry milkshake and strawberry donut, while he'd go for the chocolate option.

Decades later when Arnold was asked by Milo to taste-test the final strawberry flavour that would be used in its limited edition cereal, she was elated.

"They sent me some samples and I chose which one I liked," she said. "I've actually given it to some of my teammates in Portland, and they obviously don't know much about Milo, but for them to enjoy it says a lot.

"I'm hoping everyone else likes it in Australia as well."

Last year, after a four-season stint in England with West Ham United, Arnold joined the Thorns in the USA's NWSL competition. However, injury setbacks have prevented her from playing consistently in the last 12 months.

Having overcome triceps and calf injuries, Arnold is now healthy again and gearing up for the Women's Asian Cup in Australia in March.

Under new coach Joe Montemurro, Arnold is aiming to lift the Matildas back to world-beating form after a "disappointing" Olympics campaign in Paris.

"The Asian Cup is very important for us," she said.

"It's another major tournament that we want to win, and then that takes us into the World Cup again the following year. So it's a big couple [of] years.

"I've only had one camp with Joe, but from what I experienced, it's going to be a lot more intense.

"He knows our Australian players a lot more, and our strengths. I think he's going to take advantage of that style of play we like, make it fast and intense, so we can really go after it.

"The Olympics was quite disappointing for us, and we never wanted to finish the tournament like that, especially after the success that we had at the 2023 World Cup.

"So we're looking to get back into form now, especially having Joe in. We know that we've got a consistent coach that's going to be there a while, we're going to buy into how he wants to play, and our first test will be the Asian Cup, so it'll be interesting."

Arnold expects Australia to get behind the Matildas again when the Asian Cup rolls around, too, which will be a huge advantage for the squad.

"You can see how much the home fans helped us at the World Cup and really got us over the line in some of those games that were close," she said.

"So we're really excited to have another major tournament back home in front of our fans and hopefully we can do one better than we did at the World Cup and win that for them."