🔥🏟️Mikel Arteta bizarrely blames the BALL for Arsenal’s damaging defeat to Newcastle.

Mikel Arteta bizarrely blames the BALL for Arsenal’s damaging defeat to Newcastle

Updated 07:47 8 Jan 2025 GMT

Published 07:24 8 Jan 2025 GMT

Mikel Arteta bizarrely blames the BALL for Arsenal’s damaging defeat to Newcastle

The Gunners boss was unhappy with his side’s performance at the Emirates on Tuesday.

Luke Alfred Davies

Luke Alfred Davies

Mikel Arteta has seemingly ‘blamed’ the ball as part of the reason Arsenal lost 2-0 to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final at the Emirates on Tuesday.

Arteta, 42, was not pleased with his side’s result which puts them in a tough position heading into the second leg at St James’ Park on February 5.

Alexander Isak’s goal put the Magpies ahead on 37 minutes before the in-form Anthony Gordon doubled the away side’s lead on 51 minutes to the delight of the travelling fans.

The Gunners had 23 shots but just three on target, with Gabriel Martinelli striking the post as well as William Saliba and Kai Havertz passing up clear goalscoring opportunities.

But after the game in his post-match press conference, Arteta described how the Carabao Cup ball can be “tricky” seemingly explaining how this may have influenced Arsenal’s poor finishing.

“We kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it’s tricky that these balls fly a lot so there’s details that we can do better,” he said.

Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard in possession of the Puma-made Carabao Cup ball (Credit:Getty)

Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard in possession of the Puma-made Carabao Cup ball (Credit:Getty)

“But at the end that’s gone – there’s no way back, it’s about the next game and that’s our world, the reality is our world.

“It’s just half-time. When I see the team play, and how we deal with a lot of situations and play against a very good team, I must say I have full belief that we can go out there and do it.”

The ball used in the competition is manufactured by Puma, while the Premier League ball is made by Nike.

“It’s just different,” said Arteta when asked to elaborate on his comments regarding the ball.

“It’s very different to a Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies different.

“When you touch it the grip is very different as well, so you adapt to that.”

On Sunday, Arsenal take on Manchester United at the Emirates in the FA Cup third round. And once again, they will have to contend with a different ball, with the competition using the Mitre Ultimax Pro ball. So Arteta will no doubt be keen to familiarise his players with the ball in the coming days.