EFL Defends Carabao Cup Match Ball

The English Football League (EFL) has defended the match ball used in the Carabao Cup after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticized it for 'flying differently' than the Premier League ball, contributing to his team's 2-0 defeat against Newcastle. Arteta noted that despite Arsenal's 23 shots, they struggled to score, indicating that the ball's characteristics affected their performance. The EFL responded by stating that the Puma ball is compliant with FIFA's quality standards and has been successfully utilized in other prestigious leagues like Serie A and La Liga. They emphasized that all clubs use the same ball and noted that Arteta is the first manager to voice such concerns this season. Additionally, they pointed out that the ball has been tested and meets the FIFA Quality Pro standard, with no similar complaints from other teams. Puma is set to become the official match ball supplier for the Premier League next season.