'That's it' - Mikel Arteta hits back at ridicule over Carabao Cup ball

The Arsenal manager made some unwanted headlines when he said his side found a new ball 'tricky' after a 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg defeat to Newcastle.

The Gunners recorded 23 shots to the Magpies' seven in the defeat but both teams put just four on target.

Arteta insisted it wasn't an excuse and his players needed to adapt, however, it was too late as the clip quickly went viral.

To make matters worse for the already embarrassed Spaniard, the EFL kept the story in the headlines the following day when they released a statement about the issue.

They said the Puma object is used in both Serie A and LaLiga and that they 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.'

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Arteta may have been hoping that was the end of the matter, but manufacturers Mitre have given him a further complication by also bringing in a new ball for this weekend's FA Cup clash against Manchester United.

For the first time a 'winner's ball' will be used in the 2024/25 competition, with the gold coloured ball saved especially for games involving champions United.

Arsenal will be their first opponents as the Premier League sides enter at the third round stage so naturally the issue was brought up in Arteta's pre-match press conference.

"Why is that so important? Because of the colour?" he said with a grin. "It is what it is, you know? [It could be] a good difference!"

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He continued: "We adapt, in the Champions League it's different. If you're relating to the question the other day I got about the ball and what I said is every ball is different, the Champions League ball is different, different grip, different flight, different feeling, and that's it.

"It's not an excuse, it's a reality, every pitch is different, weather conditions change in football, that's the beauty of it, we adapt to that, never use it as an excuse."

The Basque coach may well hope 'that's it' but should his forwards fire a few wayward efforts off target at the weekend, the story could well rumble on.

He at least has one supporter outside of the red half of north London though, talkSPORT's very own Ally McCoist.

Discussing Arteta's comments, the much-loved pundit said: "Wait a minute. He's 100 per cent right! I can guarantee you there will be a difference in the ball.

"He's not making any excuses there, I didn't hear him say that was the reason for missing chances.

"All he said was it was a different ball and you've got to adapt it, which I probably think would be factually correct, not having not having seen a Premier League ball and the Carabao Cup ball, but you do get different balls.

"He's not making any excuses. It's just a fact, a statement he's made that it's different for the players.

Mikel Arteta defended by Ally McCoist over bizarre Carabao Cup excuse

"But the fact of the matter is, his players should have scored with that particular different ball."