Man Utd & Arsenal set to use different FA Cup ball to everyone else this weekend

ARSENAL and Manchester United will use a DIFFERENT ball against their FA Cup rivals this weekend.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta on Tuesday blasted the ball used in his side's Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle.

And the Spaniard could be irritated by the ball his troops will use in their third round clash with United on Saturday afternoon.

League ball supplier Miter has announced that the game will be played with special match balls to pay tribute to the visitors, who are the current FA Cup holders.

Their special FA Cup Ultimax Pro Winners ball will be in use at the Emirates.

But the rest of the FA Cup third round will be played with a DIFFERENT ball.

Arteta will no doubt speak out about the special edition ball should it find itself at the center of any controversy, of which there has been plenty at United in recent years.

After the north Londoners' 2-0 defeat to Newcastle in midweek, he said: “We kicked a lot of balls over the bar too.

“And it is difficult that these balls fly a lot, so there are details that we can do better.

“But in the end it's over, there's no going back, it's about the next game and that's our world, 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 differently.

“When you touch it, the grip is also very different, so you adapt to that.”

The EFL quickly responded to Arteta's comments, with a spokesperson saying: “As required in the professional game, the PUMA ball used in the Carabao Cup this season and in the EFL competition since 2021/22 has been tested in accordance with the FIFA Football Quality Program, and meets the FIFA Quality Pro standard.

“In addition to the Carabao Cup, the same ball has been used successfully in other major European competitions, including both Serie A and LaLiga and our three divisions in the EFL.

“All clubs play with the same ball and we have not received any further comments of this nature after the previous 88 matches that have taken place in the Carabao Cup this season.”