EFL hits back over Arteta’s complaints: ‘All clubs play with the same ball’

Manager criticised the Puma ball after Carabao Cup defeat by Newcastle

Arsenal's Leandro Trossard eyes the ball during the English League Cup quarter-final football match against Crystal Palace. Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images

The English Football League (EFL) has defended the ball being used in this year’s Carabao Cup in response to Mikel Arteta complaining that it “flies differently” after Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle on Tuesday.

Arsenal lost the first leg of their semi-final at Emirates Stadium 2-0 despite having 23 shots, with three on target. Arteta suggested the ball, which is manufactured by Puma, could have played a role in their defeat because it is different to the Nike balls used in the Premier League.

“We 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,” he said. “It’s very different to a 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, so you adapt to that.” 

The EFL said on Wednesday “all clubs play with the same ball” and that it had not received any similar complaints, adding: “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 La Liga and our three divisions in the EFL. 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.” 

Puma is set to take over as the manufacturer of the official Premier League ball from the start of next season after signing a lucrative deal to replace Nike.

Arteta was also mocked by Carabao Cup organisers. The Carabao Cup X account, which has nearly 600,000 followers, reposted a clip of Arteta speaking about the ball during his post-match press conference - and accompanied it with a meme of US rapper 50 Cent wearing an exasperated expression - in an apparent dig at the Arsenal manager's comments.

Despite the disappointing defeat, Arteta believes the Gunners can overturn the result when the two teams meet again at St James' Park on February 5.

"There is a long way to go and it's just half-time," he said. "When I see the team play, and how we deal with a lot of situations and play against a very good team I must say I have full belief that we can go out there and do it.

"We will have more players back and we will have more options and the freshness that we're going to need in that period."

The pressure is on Arteta to deliver his second trophy as manager to follow on from the club's FA Cup triumph in 2020. Arsenal will open this season's FA Cup campaign with a home tie against Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday.

And Arteta continued: "We'll focus on this performance, what we have done, why we didn't win the game and understand that and make improvements and recharge.

"We need a lot of energy. We have a big game here against United in a different competition, so let's move on. You have to turn things around." 

Guardian and PA