Cooney-Cross returns to the Emirates carrying her mum’s memory

Arsenal midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross will have a very personal moment on Sunday as she returns to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since the death of her mother, Jess.

In comments reported by BBC Sport, the Australia international says the fixture against Crystal Palace brings “mixed emotions”. She describes matchdays as far more intense now, and says she wants to honour what her mum would have wanted while also repaying the fans’ support. “I want to play for the fans as well, to say thank you to them,” she told BBC Sport.

A diagnosis that changed everything

Her mother was diagnosed with stage four cholangiocarcinoma in January, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer. Cooney-Cross says the call after Christmas was the point where her world changed, and that she immediately travelled back to be with her. She took compassionate leave from football to spend her mother’s final months at her side.

BBC Sport also recalls that Jess passed away in July at the age of 45.

Coming back with Arsenal’s support

Cooney-Cross, who is one of four sisters, says training back in Australia while spending time with family helped her cope. She credits Arsenal’s care during her time away as “amazing”, adding that head coach Renee Slegers and director of women’s football Claire Wheatley checked in regularly, with teammates Alessia Russo and Taylor Hinds also providing major support.

She will hope to make her mum proud at the Emirates again, noting that the last time Jess watched her play in person was at the stadium. Before each game, Cooney-Cross also reads a message from her mum, saying she thinks a lot about how she should live and play, “for her and my drive, but even more so now”.