Support poured in for Kyra Cooney-Cross from Arsenal fans and her teammates at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, as they gathered to uplift the absent Matildas star during a challenging time.

Last week, Cooney-Cross shared her sudden return to Australia to be with her mother, Jess, who has been diagnosed with stage four cancer.

The 23-year-old midfielder took to Instagram to post several touching images of herself by her mother’s side in the hospital, revealing the devastating news of her mother battling a ‘rare and aggressive’ bile duct cancer.

This revelation spurred a wave of support from her fellow players, including Matildas teammates Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord. In a touching tribute, the entire Arsenal squad donned warm-up shirts emblazoned with Cooney-Cross’s name and her number, 32, ahead of their first WSL match after the winter break against Manchester United.

The encounter, which concluded in a scoreless draw, drew a crowd of 37,000. A section of these fans marched to the north London stadium, brandishing signs declaring: “We love you Kyra and Jess.”

Arsenal women’s team paid tribute to their team-mate Kyra Cooney-Cross during their goalless draw against Manchester United on Saturday 

The Gunners sent a message to their team-mate and her mother, Jess, after Cooney-Cross revealed last week that her mum was heartbreakingly suffering from stage four cancer

In the 32nd minute, the fans hoisted the signs into the air at the Emirates, with supporters breaking out into a round of applause.

‘There are bigger things in life,’ Arsenal boss Renee Slegers said. 

‘Of course, we miss Kyra here, but Kyra is where she needs to be right now, with the family, so our thoughts are with her, Jess and the rest of the family.’

Manchester United joined in the support with manager Marc Skinner saying: ‘I just want to share a message for Kyra and her family. 

‘From everyone at Manchester United, we wish you all the very best, and the football family’s with you, and I hope that you can find a happy space.’

European champions Arsenal certainly missed the creative talent of Cooney-Cross. 

The Queensland-born midfielder was awarded the club’s player of the month last week in recognition of her sensational form.

Cooney-Cross (right) with her mum, Jess, revealed the news on Instagram, stating that her mother had been diagnosed with a ‘rare and aggressive’ form of bile duct cancer

Arsenal stars rallied around their team-mate, by warming up while wearing shirts with ‘Cooney-Cross’ and her number, 32, printed on the back

Fans inside the Emirates Stadium held up a sign on the 32nd minute of the match that read ‘We love you Kyra and Jess’

Manchester United also issued their support for Cooney-Cross (second from right), her mother Jess (third from right) and their family 

It’s the third time in her career that the Matildas midfielder has won the honour. 

‘I’ve been getting good consistency in minutes and I’ve been really enjoying it and making the most of it,’ she had said following Arsenal’s 3-1 win against Everton.

Her words had resonated with the fans when she had said on her Instagram post: ‘My mum is my hero, my best friend, my everything, and the person who has shaped every part of who I am.

‘She is the reason I am where I am today. Her strength, love and belief in me has carried me through everything. Trying to put into words what she means to me feels impossible.’

England captain Leah Williamson, who has been limited to nine minutes of league action in 2025-26 because of a knee injury, made her first WSL start of the season but even her return failed to lift a curiously flat Arsenal performance.

Even with United right-back Jayde Riviere getting sent off in the 66th minute for a second bookable offence, Arsenal could only earn a fifth draw in their 12 WSL matches, and remain third, a point behind champions Chelsea and seven behind Manchester City despite having played one match more than the two pacesetters.