In a surprising turn of events, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has found himself on the receiving end of ridicule from Carabao Cup organizers after his comments regarding the match ball used in their recent game against Newcastle at the Emirates. The Gunners suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat in the first leg of the semi-final, with Newcastle now holding a significant advantage on their path to Wembley.
Arteta’s suggestion that the PUMA match ball used in the Carabao Cup played a role in their defeat has raised eyebrows among football enthusiasts. The Spanish manager highlighted the difference between the PUMA ball used in the Carabao Cup and the Nike ball used in the Premier League, a detail that he believes impacted Arsenal’s performance on the pitch.
Before their semi-final clash with Newcastle, Arsenal had shown prowess in front of goal in the Carabao Cup, scoring 11 times this season. However, Arteta’s observations about the match ball have sparked debate among fans and within the football community.
“We kicked a lot of balls over the bar,” Arteta remarked in the aftermath of the defeat. “It’s tricky. This ball flies a lot. It’s just very different to the Premier League ball and we have to adapt to that. It flies different, and the grip is very different as well.”
Arteta’s comments have not been well-received by some, with critics questioning whether attributing the defeat to the match ball was a valid explanation for Arsenal’s lacklustre performance. As the Gunners look to overturn the deficit in the second leg, all eyes will be on Arteta and his team to see if they can bounce back from this setback. Only time will tell if the match ball saga will continue to be a talking point in the Carabao Cup journey for Arsenal.
