Mikel Arteta bizarrely blames the Carabao Cup BALL for Arsenal’s missed chances against Newcastle, as he bemoans his side ‘kicking a lot over the bar’ during their 2-0 defeat in the first leg
Mikel Arteta badly brought up the match ball when breaking down Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat by Newcastle. A Puma ball is used in the Carabao Cup, whereas a Nike ball is used in the Premier League.
When asked about Arsenal’s missed chances—they had 23 shots, but just three on target — Arteta replied: ‘We also kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it’s tricky that these balls fly a lot so there are 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.’ When pressed further on the issue, Arteta added, ‘No, it’s just different. It’s very different to the Premier League ball and you have to adapt to that.
‘It flies differently… when you touch it, the grip is very different as well so you have to adapt to that.’
