BALL AND CHANGE
Mikel Arteta faces third different ball this week after Newcastle excuse as Man Utd target FA Cup surprise vs Arsenal
Scroll down to see how Arsenal's shooting stats vary from one ball to another
ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta bizarrely suggested the Carabao Cup ball factored into his team's 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Tuesday.
But the Gunners will be forced to play with ANOTHER different football this weekend when they face Manchester United in the FA Cup third round.
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As things stand, Arsenal remain competitive in four different major competitions - each of which use a different ball.
Arteta highlighted the main difference between the Carabao Cup and Prem balls after the club's defeat to Newcastle earlier this week, citing numerous missed attempts on goal.
He explained: "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.
"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 our world.
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"It’s just different. Very different to a Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies different.
"When you touch it the grip is very different as well so you adapt to that."
In response to Arteta's comments, an EFL spokesperson said: "As is required throughout the professional game, the PUMA ball used in this season’s Carabao Cup and in EFL competition since 2021/22 is tested in accordance with the FIFA Quality Programme for Footballs, and meets the FIFA Quality Pro standard.
"In addition to the Carabao Cup, 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.
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"All Clubs play with the same ball, and we have received no further comments of this nature following any of the previous 88 fixtures which have taken place in this season’s Carabao Cup."
Before Tuesday's semi-final first leg against Newcastle, 27 of Arsenal's 51 shots in the Carabao Cup this season were on target - an average of 53 per cent with the Puma football.
Arsenal player vs Newcastle in the Carabao Cup first leg tie at the Emirates (1)
In comparison, 102 of Arsenal's 197 shots in the Premier League have been on target - an average of 52 per cent with the Nike ball.
And in the Champions League, the Gunners have managed to direct 58 per cent of their shots on target - 33 out of 57 shots with the Adidas ball.
The Carabao Cup ball slammed Arteta will be used in the Prem next season.
SunSport understands that an exact version of the ball has already been developed and agreed as the new Prem model - despite the complaints by some managers about it this season.
Like other competitions, the FA Cup also involves the use of a different ball.
The beloved domestic competition has its footballs supplied by Mitre.
Arsenal will use them for the first time this season on Sunday when they face Man Utd.
The Gunners will go into the match with some key players absent.
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Bukayo Saka remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while his replacement, Ethan Nwaneri, is also unavailable due to a muscle problem.
Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu both remain absent from the squad due to injuries.
Cup ball to be used in Prem
By Martin Lipton
THE Carabao Cup ball slammed by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be used in the PREMIER LEAGUE next season.
Gunners chief Arteta suggested the “tricky” Puma ball used by the EFL in its flagship competition had been a factor in his side’s shooting woes during the 2-0 semi-final first leg defeat by Newcastle.
Arteta said the Puma balls “fly a lot”, admitting “there’s details that we can do better”.
Pressed further, Arteta added: “It’s just different. It’s very different to a Premier League ball.
“You have to adapt to that because it flies different.
“When you touch it, the grip is very different as well, so you adapt to that.”
But Arteta and his players will certainly have to adapt next term as Prem chiefs will switch to the SAME ball for the new season.
The Prem has used Nike balls since 2000 but a contract dispute saw the decision to switch to the German manufacturer from the 2025-26 season in what was described as a “lucrative” deal.
Sun Sport understands that an exact version of the Carabao Cup ball has already been developed and agreed as the new Prem model - despite the complaints by some managers about it this season.
Moving to Puma may, though, help ease the delayed introduction of semi-automated offside technology.
The versions used by Fifa and Uefa have been developed in collaboration with Adidas, while Italy’s Serie A has brought in the technology with a Puma ball.
PGMOL had hoped to introduce a semi-automated system developed by US-based Genius Sports in the autumn but it is now not expected to be unrolled until next term after issues in decision-making accuracy.
Working with Puma specialists, who have already used a similar system, over the coming months should enable a fool-proof version to be ready for the big kick-off in August.
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