EFL issue statement in response to Mikel Arteta's complaints over the Carabao Cup ball... after the Gunners boss claimed they 'fly a lot' following semi-final first leg defeat
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The EFL has defended the ball used in the Carabao Cup this season after Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta suggested it had played a factor in their missed chances against Newcastle. Arsenal suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday night.
![[Mikel Arteta bizarrely brought up the ball when breaking down Arsenal’s defeat by Newcastle]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/16/93876547-14263559-image-a-1_1736353552591.jpg)
The Gunners had 23 shots at the Emirates, but had just three attempts on target with Kai Havertz producing a glaring miss when he misjudged a header and shouldered the ball wide. ‘We also kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it's tricky that these balls fly a lot so there’s details that we can do better,' Arteta said post-match.
![[Arsenal missed several chances as they had 23 shots, but just three of these were on target]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/17/93848861-14263559-Arsenal_missed_several_chances_as_they_had_23_shots_but_just_thr-a-3_1736358069241.jpg)
‘But at the end that’s gone, there’s no way back it's about the next game and that’s our world, the reality.’. When pressed further on the issue, Arteta added: 'No, it's just different. It's very different to the Premier League ball and you have to adapt to that.
![[Arteta claimed the Puma Carabao Cup ball was 'different' and said that 'these balls fly a lot']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/17/93848859-14263559-Arteta_claimed_the_Puma_Carabao_Cup_ball_was_different_and_said_-a-4_1736358244460.jpg)
The EFL defended the use of the Puma ball in the Carabao Cup after Mikel Arteta's comments. Mikel Arteta bizarrely brought up the ball when breaking down Arsenal’s defeat by Newcastle. Arsenal missed several chances as they had 23 shots, but just three of these were on target.
'It flies different... when you touch it, the grip is very different as well so you have to adapt to that.'. In the Carabao Cup, a Puma ball is used, whereas a Nike ball is used in the Premier League. Clubs are given balls to train with before EFL Cup fixtures.
