THE EFL has responded to Mikel Arteta's suggestion that the Carabao Cup balls “fly differently”.
Arsenal were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle in the first leg of the semi-final with goals either side of half-time from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.
The Gunners had 23 shots and 11 corners leading to just three attempts on target, and also recorded an xG of 3.12 – the highest by a Prem club who have not scored in any match this season.
Boss Arteta appeared to suggest after the match that the Carabao Cup Puma ball was a factor in his side's lack of efficiency in front of goal.
The Spaniard said: “We kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it's difficult that these balls fly a lot, so there are details we can do better.
“It's 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.”
But an EFL spokesperson said: “As required in the professional game, the Puma ball used in this season's Carabao Cup and in the EFL competition since 2021/2022 has been tested in accordance with the FIFA Quality Program for Footballs 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 following the previous 88 matches that have taken place in the Carabao Cup this season.”
Puma will also compete in the Premier League from the 2025/2026 season, replacing Nike after 25 years in what is described as a lucrative deal.
Managers criticizing differences between manufacturers are not new.
The official Carabao Cup X account also responded to a post where Arteta discussed the ball.
The post included a photo of rapper 50 Cent from a viral clip in which he says “why you say f*** me for.”
Arsenal will look to overturn their two-goal deficit in the second leg at St James' Park on February 5.
Meanwhile, Arsenal fans remained convinced that Isak's opener should not have counted.
They saw a push from the attacker on Martin Odegaard just before they hit the net.
Even more fans were stunned when Gordon scored his goal during a Thierry Henry-inspired celebration in north London.
Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was left in tears at full-time as he appeared to say goodbye ahead of a move to Saudi Arabia.
The League Cup still used a miter ball in 2017 when Manchester City defeated Wolves on penalties in the last sixteen.
Pep Guardiola – who had Arteta as an assistant – said at the time: “It is not acceptable, the ball was unacceptable for a high-level competition.
“It's too light, it moves in all directions, it's not a good ball. It's impossible to score with a ball like that and I can say that because we won, I'm not making any excuses.”
Nike's Prem ball consists of 'four fused panels', while the Carabao Cup Puma ball has a 'unique eight-panel configuration'.
It is clear that all clubs participating in the Carabao Cup will be given the balls to train with prior to their matches.
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