Official EFL response to Mikel Arteta blaming match ball for Arsenal defeat to Newcastle United | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta made headlines when blaming the match ball when Arsenal lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle United.

As always, the Gunners boss looking for excuses when his team lose, rather than graciously accepting the defeat.

In the Carabao Cup, matches feature a ball manufactured by Puma. Whereas in the Premier League, it is Nike who manufacture the match balls.

Now the EFL have released an official response to Arteta’s desperate attempts to shift blame away from himself and his players, sadly the media have been, as usual, so lame in not challenging what the Arsenal boss comes out with.

Mikel Arteta on why Arsenal lost against Newcastle United:

“We kicked a lot of balls over the bar.

“It’s tricky that these balls fly a lot.

“It is very different to a Premier League ball.

“You have to adapt to that because it flies differently.

“When you touch it, the grip is very different as well, so you have to adapt to that.”

EFL Official response after Mikel Arteta blamed the match ball for Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United:

“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.”

Arsenal 0 Newcastle 2 – Tuesday 7 January 2025 8pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Isak 37, Gordon 51

Arsenal:

Possession was Newcastle 31% (42%) Arsenal 69% (58%)

Total shots were Newcastle 7 (5) Arsenal 23 (14)

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 (2) Arsenal 3 (3)

Corners were Newcastle 1 (1) Arsenal 11 (4)

Touches in the box Newcastle 15 (10) Arsenal 47 (19)

Newcastle team v Arsenal:

Dubravka, Livramento, Botman, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Willock (Longstaff 65), Joelinton, Murphy (Kelly 65), Isak (Barnes 65), Gordon (Almiron 76)

Unused subs:

Vlachodimos, Trippier, Osula, Lewis Miley, Targett

(A must watch! Bruno Guimaraes and son react to Arsenal 0 Newcastle 2 final whistle – Watch HERE)

(Eddie Howe reflects after schooling Mikel Arteta…yet again – Arsenal 0 Newcastle 2 – Read HERE)

(We were the better team – Cry some more Mikel Arteta – Read HERE)

(Arsenal 0 Newcastle 2 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

Newcastle United upcoming matches:

Sunday 12 January – Newcastle v Bromley (3pm) BBC iPlayer (FA Cup)

Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 18 January – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 25 January – Southampton v Newcastle (3pm)

Saturday 1 February – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)

Wednesday 5 February – Newcastle v Arsenal (8pm) Sky Sports