“In football, the worst thing is the excuses,” said Pep Guardiola. “Excuses mean you can’t grow or move forward.”
Mikel Arteta he learned many lessons from his former mentor, but he seems to have overlooked this particular pearl of wisdom. Arsenal’s increasingly beleaguered boss blamed the “delicate” ball used in the Carabao Cup after his team’s wayward performance in a Defeat by 2-0 against Newcastle United on tuesday
“It flies differently, when you touch it the grip is very different,” worried Arteta, ignoring that his team had scored 11 goals in three previous games with the same ball design.
The English Football League (EFL) which runs England secondary cup competition He responded to Arteta’s comments with a strong statement: “As required throughout the professional game, the Puma ball used in this season’s Carabao Cup and in the EFL competition from 2021/22 is tested to in accordance with the FIFA Football Quality Program and complies with the Fifa Quality Pro standard.
“In addition to the Carabao Cup, the same ball has been used successfully in other major European leagues, including the two Series A and La Liga and our three divisions in the EFL. All clubs play with the same ball and we have not received any comments of this nature after any of the previous 88 games played in the Carabao Cup this season.”
Something for the winners… 🏆
As current holders of @EmiratesFACup season 23/24, @ManUtd will play in this Gold Limited Edition Ultimax Pro Match Ball in the 3rd Round tie against Arsenal on Sunday.
Let’s see if they can make it to the finals… pic.twitter.com/LlekjNQAZh
— Miter Sports (@MitreSports) January 9, 2025
Arteta’s fears of inadequate equipment could be rekindled when Arsenal host Manchester United in FA Cup third round on Sunday afternoon. Mitra revealed that all cup ties involving the reigning champions will be played with a unique ‘Ulimax Pro Gold Limited Edition’ ball this season.
The color gold, rather than silver, is the only difference between the ball used in Sunday’s game at the Emirates and the other 63 third-round qualifiers. However, Miter is not the same company that produces the Premier League ball that Arteta seems to value above all others, that honor belongs to Nike, for now.
Puma, the makers of the controversial Carabao Cup design, have agreed a deal to supply the Premier League’s match ball from the 2025/26 season.
Arteta has been ridiculed for his feeble attempt to explain Tuesday’s Defeat by 2-0 against Newcastlebut he is not the first coach to conjure up dark excuses.
The Spaniard’s former team-mate at Barcelona, Xavi Hernández, was famous for complaining about every little thing he could think of. The grass was too long, the field too small and the sun too strong.
even Guardiola he has ignored his own advice about excuses. After the Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017 – which Arteta watched from the bench as assistant manager – the Manchester City manager moaned: “It’s not acceptable, the ball it was unacceptable for a high-level competition.”
