Arteta shockingly blames ball for Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle

When discussing Arsenal’s 2-0 loss against Newcastle, Mikel Arteta oddly brought up the match ball. The Premier League uses a Nike ball, whereas the Carabao Cup uses a Puma ball. Arteta responded as follows when asked about Arsenal’s wasted opportunities: They had 23 shots, but only three of them were on goal.

‘We also 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.

‘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.’

Arteta added further when pressed about the issue that: ‘No, it’s just different. It’s very different to the Premier League ball and you have to adapt to that.’It flies different… when you touch it, the grip is very different as well so you have to adapt to that.’

When Arteta was Manchester City’s assistant manager, Pep Guardiola described the Mitre ball used in a Carabao Cup last-16 tie victory over Wolves in October 2017 as ‘very disgusting’. Isak, who has long been linked with Arsenal, scored once and assisted in Newcastle’s second goal, which was finished by Anthony Gordon off the striker’s deflected shot.

‘Unfortunately, he had the ball in the box twice, which is what happens when you have true quality up front, where they can make a difference and are very clinical.’