Online Reporter
ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta bizarrely suggested the Carabao Cup ball factored into his team’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Tuesday.
But the Gunners will be forced to play with ANOTHER different football this weekend when they face Manchester United in the FA Cup third round. As things stand, Arsenal remain competitive in four different major competitions – each of which use a different ball.
Arteta highlighted the main difference between the Carabao Cup and Prem balls after the club’s defeat to Newcastle earlier this week, citing numerous missed attempts on goal. He explained: “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 is our world.
“It’s just different. 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.”
In response to Arteta’s comments, an EFL spokesperson said: “As is required throughout the professional game, the PUMA ball used in this season’s Carabao Cup and in EFL competition since 2021/22 is tested in accordance with the FIFA Quality Programme for Footballs, and meets the FIFA Quality Pro standard.
“In addition to the Carabao Cup, the same ball has been successfully used in other major European leagues, including both Serie A and LaLiga and our three divisions in the EFL.
“All Clubs play with the same ball, and we have received no further comments of this nature following any of the previous 88 fixtures which have taken place in this season’s Carabao Cup.”
Before Tuesday’s semi-final first leg against Newcastle, 27 of Arsenal’s 51 shots in the Carabao Cup this season were on target – an average of 53 per cent with the Puma football.
The Carabao Cup ball slammed Arteta will be used in the Prem next season.
SunSport understands that an exact version of the ball has already been developed and agreed as the new Prem model – despite the complaints by some managers about it this season. Like other competitions, the FA Cup also involves the use of a different ball.
The beloved domestic competition has its footballs supplied by Mitre.
Arsenal will use them for the first time this season on Sunday when they face Man Utd.
The Gunners will go into the match with some key players absent.
Bukayo Saka remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while his replacement, Ethan Nwaneri, is also unavailable due to a muscle problem. Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu both remain absent from the squad due to injuries —Sun.
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