EFL release statement mocking Mikel Arteta after Arsenal boss made Carabao Cup complaint
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The English Football League (EFL) has defended its Carabao Cup match ball after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta suggested it contributed to his team's poor shooting in their 2-0 semi-final first leg defeat to Newcastle United.
Arsenal managed just three shots on target from 23 attempts at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, with Arteta pointing to the Puma ball's different characteristics compared to the Premier League's Nike ball.
"I think we kicked a lot of the balls over the bar and it's tricky that this ball flies a lot," Arteta said after the match.
The Arsenal boss specifically highlighted the differences in both flight and grip compared to regular Premier League balls.
Mikel Arteta hit out at the balls used by the Carabao Cup
Reuters
"It's just different, very different to the Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies differently. When you touch it, the grip is very different as well," he explained.
The EFL issued a firm response, stating the Puma ball used in the Carabao Cup "meets the FIFA Quality Pro standard" and has been tested according to FIFA's Quality Programme for Footballs.
The governing body emphasised the ball's widespread use in other major competitions.
"The same ball has been successfully used in other major European leagues, including both Serie A and LaLiga and our three divisions in the EFL," the statement read.
The EFL noted they had received no complaints from any clubs during the previous 88 fixtures this season.
The Carabao Cup's social media team appeared to mock Arteta's comments about the match ball on their X account, which has nearly 600,000 followers.
They reposted a clip of the Arsenal manager's post-match press conference alongside a meme of US rapper 50 Cent looking exasperated.
Rangers legend Ally McCoist defended Arteta on talkSPORT, saying: "He's 100 per cent right. I can guarantee you there will be a difference in the ball. He's not making any excuses there."
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Newcastle beat Arsenal 2-0 on Tuesday night at the Emirates
Reuters
Despite the setback, Arteta remained optimistic about Arsenal's chances in the second leg at St James' Park on February 5.
"There is a long way to go and it's just half-time," the Arsenal manager said.
"When I see the team play, and how we deal with a lot of situations and play against a very good team, I have full belief that we can go out there and do it."
The winner of the tie will face either Tottenham or Liverpool in the final at Wembley on March 16.
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