Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, made some surprising comments about the match ball after his team lost 2-0 to Newcastle United in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals. The match was played with a Puma ball, which is different from the Nike ball used in the Premier League, and Arteta suggested that this change might have affected his players’ performance.
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak played a crucial role in the victory, scoring his 50th goal for the team just before halftime. He also assisted on Anthony Gordon’s goal in the second half. Although Arsenal created plenty of chances—taking 23 shots, with just three on target—they struggled to score. They even hit the woodwork and missed several key opportunities, including a notable miss from Kai Havertz.
Arteta commented on the missed chances, stating, “We kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it’s tricky that these balls fly a lot, so there are details we can do better.” He went on to explain the differences in the balls: “It’s very different from the Premier League ball. It flies differently, the grip is different, so you have to adapt to that.”
He acknowledged that despite being better overall, what mattered was scoring goals. “Credit to them, they defended their box very well. We had the chances, but at this stage, a semi-final, you have to be clinical,” he said.
Isak has been in great form lately, scoring 10 goals in his last nine games. Newcastle’s manager, Eddie Howe, was impressed by Isak’s performance, describing him as “electric” in the first half. However, he did express some concerns about a hamstring issue that affected Isak’s play in the second half. Howe is hopeful that Isak will be fit for the second leg at St James’ Park on February 5.
The outcome puts Newcastle in a strong position to reach the League Cup final and possibly end a trophy drought that has lasted since 1955. Meanwhile, Arsenal will need to make a significant comeback in the second leg to keep their hopes alive.
