Mikel Arteta bizarrely appears to blame Carabao Cup BALL for Arsenal’s missed chances as trophy drought set to continue
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MIKEL ARTETA has bizarrely blamed the BALL for Arsenal's defeat to Newcastle. The Gunners suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at the Emirates in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. Aleksander Isak and Anthony Gordon scored goals to put the Magpies in a comfortable position ahead of the reverse fixture.
![[Mikel Arteta has appeared to blame the ball for Arsenal's defeat to Newcastle]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/epa11811740-arsenal-manager-mikel-arteta-962219609_1dfdea.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Arsenal were unable to find a response despite having 23 shots during the match. Arteta's side were only able to hit the target with three shots which was one less than Newcastle despite having 16 more efforts. After the game, he appeared to point to the ball as one of the reasons his side were unable to score.
![[He addressed the issue after the match in his press conference]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/www-youtube-com-watch-v-962311555.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The ball used for the Carabao Cup is made by Puma instead of Nike, which provides the official ball for the Premier League. One of the big differences between the two is the Puma one is made of up 12 panels while the Prem version is made of only four. But Arteta has insisted that the differences led to his side not being able to hit the target as well as the fly different.
![[The Gunners only hit the target with three of their 23 shots]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kai-havertz-arsenal-looks-shot-962225990_8ebd98.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
He said: "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. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS. "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 is out world.
![[Puma makes the ball for the Carabao Cup matches]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/carabao-cup-match-ball-used-958516229.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
