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“Furious Mikel Arteta Exposes the Shocking Reason Behind Arsenal’s Humiliating EFL Cup Loss to Newcastle
Arsenal’s first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal was a match to forget, as Newcastle United secured a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, powered by Alexander Isak’s goal and assist. While Mikel Arteta acknowledged Newcastle’s strong performance, he also pointed to another factor contributing to Arsenal’s poor finishing—the match ball itself.
Arteta remains hopeful that his team can turn things around in the second leg on February 5, but emphasized that they must adjust to the “tricky” ball. Unlike in the Premier League, the Carabao Cup uses a Puma Orbita 1, while the Premier League features the Nike Flight ball.
“It’s just different,” Arteta remarked after the match. “Very different from a Premier League ball. You have to adapt because it flies differently, and the grip is also very different, so you adjust to that.”
While the difference in ball type can be challenging, Arsenal’s struggle to convert their chances went beyond this issue. Despite taking 23 shots and generating an xG of 3.12, only three of those attempts tested goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. Arsenal’s recent Premier League form has seen them outperform their xG in the last five matches, excluding the 0-0 draw against Everton. However, those teams were not of Newcastle’s caliber.
Newcastle’s defense, under Eddie Howe, effectively restricted Arsenal’s opportunities in the box, forcing them to take shots from less dangerous areas, which paid off. To overcome this deficit, Arsenal will need to control the second leg, even though it will take place at Newcastle’s home stadium.
