Following Arsenal's 2-0 loss to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, Mikel Arteta attributed the defeat to the match ball, suggesting it differed significantly from the Premier League ball in terms of flight and grip.
In response, the EFL defended the ball's quality, stating it meets FIFA's Quality Pro standard and is used successfully in other major European leagues, including Serie A and LaLiga.
This isn't the first time a manager has criticised the Carabao Cup ball: Pep Guardiola has expressed similar concerns during his tenure at Manchester City.
Looking ahead, Arsenal are set to face Manchester United in the FA Cup third-round match, where a special edition ball will be used to honour United as the current FA Cup holders. This means Arsenal will have to adapt to yet another different ball in a short span.
Despite the EFL's assurances, Arteta's comments have sparked debate among fans and pundits about the impact of different match balls on team performance.
I'm not sure what to make of Arteta's outburst. I like to think it's calculated and designed to deflect criticism away from the team, but I'm not sure. However, great managers do this. Let's not forget that Sir Alex Ferguson blamed the grey kit for United's away defeat at Southampton, back in the day. He claimed that they couldn't see who they were passing to.
United went on to win a lot more trophies despite being written off after that loss. Let's hope Arsenal can do the same.
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