Arsenal’s FA Cup tie against Manchester United is fast approaching, and the Gunners will have to contend with another new ball, much to the frustration of manager Mikel Arteta.
This comes right after his odd comments regarding the ball used in their recent Carabao Cup defeat against Newcastle.
Arteta’s Controversial Comments After Carabao Cup Loss
In their mid-week Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Newcastle, Arsenal dominated possession but struggled to make their chances count, losing 2-0.
Despite firing off 23 shots, only three were on target.
After the game, Arteta surprised many by bringing up the match ball as a factor in the loss.
He said, “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.”
Arteta then elaborated, suggesting that the ball’s flight and grip were different from what his players were accustomed to, making it harder to adapt.
This claim seemed odd to many, considering the team trains with the ball ahead of games.
A Custom Ball for the FA Cup to Celebrate Manchester United’s Triumph
Now, Arsenal is set to face Manchester United in the FA Cup third round, and this time, a special Mitre ball will be used to commemorate United’s triumph in last year’s FA Cup.
The customized ball will feature gold accents to mark their victory over Manchester City in the final.
While it looks similar to the standard FA Cup ball, the slight differences are sure to catch Arteta’s attention.
For Arsenal, this will be the third different ball in as many games.
The team played Brighton with the Premier League ball, followed by the Carabao Cup match with the PUMA ball, and now they’ll have to face United with a ball that is slightly different yet again.
EFL Responds to Arteta’s Ball Concerns
Arteta’s comments about the Carabao Cup ball have raised eyebrows, with former footballers and pundits voicing their surprise.
The EFL responded to his concerns, noting that the PUMA ball used in the Carabao Cup meets FIFA’s quality standards and has been used in major leagues like Serie A and La Liga without any issues.
The spokesperson emphasized that all clubs play with the same ball and that no other complaints have been made this season.
Pundits and Fans Weigh In on Arteta’s Excuses
Many were puzzled by Arteta’s ball-related remarks, with Jamie Redknapp and Michael Dawson criticizing him for bringing up the ball as a potential excuse.
Redknapp expressed disappointment, saying that it was just another excuse and noting that Arsenal had likely trained with the PUMA ball beforehand.
Dawson agreed, stating that Arteta was looking for something to blame, even though the ball wasn’t the real issue behind the loss.
As the Gunners prepare for their FA Cup clash, the focus will likely shift from the ball to the actual match performance, with Arteta needing to guide his side to victory without relying on excuses.