“BALL BLAME?!” Mikel Arteta SHOCKS FANS with Bizarre Excuse After Arsenal’s CRUSHING Defeat to Newcastle
Mikel Arteta offers unusual explanation for Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle – All Sport Recipe
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta appeared to partly attribute his team’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final to the ball used during the match. The game, held at the Emirates on Tuesday, has left Arsenal in a difficult position ahead of the second leg at St James’ Park on February 5.
Newcastle secured their advantage through Alexander Isak’s 37th-minute goal, followed by Anthony Gordon’s strike early in the second half, delighting the visiting fans. Despite Arsenal’s 23 attempts on goal, they managed only three shots on target. Gabriel Martinelli hit the post, while William Saliba and Kai Havertz missed key chances to score.
In his post-match comments, Arteta, 42, raised concerns about the Carabao Cup ball, describing it as “tricky” and suggesting it may have impacted his players’ shooting accuracy. “We sent a lot of shots over the bar. These balls tend to fly a lot, so it’s something we need to adjust,” he explained.
The manager remained optimistic despite the setback, emphasizing the need to focus on the second leg. “This is just the halfway point. After observing how we handled various situations against a strong opponent, I’m confident we can turn this around.”
Arteta also elaborated on the differences between the Carabao Cup ball, manufactured by Puma, and the Nike ball used in Premier League games. “It’s not the same. The way it moves and the grip are quite distinct, so you have to adapt to it,” he added.
Arsenal’s next challenge comes on Sunday when they host Manchester United in the FA Cup third round. This match will introduce yet another adjustment for the players, as the competition uses the Mitre Ultimax Pro ball. Arteta is expected to prioritize his team’s familiarity with the new ball in preparation for the game.
