Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Carabao Cup organisers mock Mikel Arteta over Arsenal boss' match ball comments

by · football.london

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been mocked by Carabao Cup organisers after he suggested that the match ball used in their game against Newcastle United contributed to their defeat at the Emirates Stadium.

Newcastle secured a significant 2-0 victory in the semi-final opening leg, with Alexander Isak scoring his 10th goal in nine appearances and Anthony Gordon doubling the lead in the second half. Despite Arsenal's 23 attempts, only three were on target, with Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz missing crucial opportunities. Post-match, Arteta highlighted the difference between the PUMA ball used in the Carabao Cup and the Nike one used in the Premier League.

"We kicked a lot of balls over the bar," Arteta said. "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."

The Carabao Cup X account, which boasts nearly 600,000 followers, reposted a clip of Arteta discussing the ball during his post-match press conference, pairing it with a meme of US rapper 50 Cent looking exasperated – seemingly mocking the Arsenal manager’s comments.

Despite the setback, Arteta is confident that Arsenal have what it takes to come back against their rivals in the next matchup at St James’ Park on February 5. “There is a long way to go and it’s just half-time,” he said. “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.

“We will have more players back and we will have more options and the freshness that we’re going to need in that period.” Arteta added: “We’ll focus on this performance, what we have done, why we didn’t win the game and understand that and make improvements and recharge.

“We need a lot of energy. We have a big game here against United in a different competition, so let’s move on. You have to turn things around.”