Arteta Defends Arsenal After Cup Defeat

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faced backlash after attributing his team's 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle United to the match ball used in the game. Despite recording 23 shots, Arsenal managed only three on target, with Arteta commenting on the ball's different grip and flight compared to the Premier League ball. The English Football League (EFL) countered Arteta's claims, stating the Puma ball meets FIFA standards and has been successfully used in other top leagues without complaint. Critics, including Jamie Redknapp and Michael Dawson, accused Arteta of making excuses for his team's wastefulness in front of goal. Arteta remains optimistic about reversing the result in the second leg, maintaining that adaptation is key in football. The incident has drawn significant media attention, highlighting both Arteta's comments and the EFL's response.