Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has attributed his team’s struggles in their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the first leg of their Carabao Cup clash to the game ball. Unlike the Premier League’s Nike ball, the Carabao Cup uses a Puma-manufactured ball, which Arteta suggested impacted his players’ finishing.
“When you touch it, the grip is very different, so you have to adapt to that,” Arteta stated during his post-match interview.
Despite dominating possession and registering 23 shots, Arsenal failed to convert their chances, with an expected goals (xG) tally of 3.09. Only three of their attempts were on target, highlighting their inefficiency in front of goal.
Gabriel Martinelli struck the woodwork in the first half, while Kai Havertz missed a clear-cut header in the second half, sending it wide.
Meanwhile, Newcastle capitalized on their limited chances, with goals from Antony Gordon and Alexander Isak giving them a commanding lead ahead of the second leg.
When questioned on improving Arsenal’s finishing, Arteta said, “Nothing, just try and show them and give them tips on what we can do better.” He also highlighted the challenges posed by the Carabao Cup ball.
“It’s tricky; this ball flies a lot. We discussed that as well, so there are details we can do better,” Arteta noted.
Doubling down, he added, “It’s just very different from the Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies differently. But in the end, that’s gone; there is no way back. It’s about the next game—that’s the reality of our world.”
Despite expressing frustration over missed chances, Arteta commended Newcastle for their clinical finishing.
“If you look at what both teams produced and the domination of the game, obviously it’s not the result that reflects the story of the game. But the reality is that they were super efficient with the chances they had, and we weren’t,” he concluded.
Arsenal will now face a tough challenge in overturning the two-goal deficit when they host Newcastle in the second leg next month.
