Pep Guardiola once said: “In football, the worst things are excuses.” “Excuses mean you can't grow or move forward.”
Mikel Arteta He had learned many lessons from his former teacher but seemed to have ignored that pearl of wisdom. An increasingly beleaguered Arsenal coach Blame it on Saab. The ball used in the Carabao Cup after his team's wayward performance in the A 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United Tuesday.
“It flies differently. When you touch it, its grip is completely different,” Arteta said, ignoring the fact that his team had scored 11 goals in three previous matches with the same ball design.
The English Football League (EFL) runs the English Premier League Secondary cup competition Responding to Arteta's comments with a strongly worded statement: “As is required throughout the professional game, the Puma ball used in the Carabao Cup this season and in Premier League competitions since 2021/22 is tested in accordance with the FIFA Quality Programme, and conforms to the Fifa Quality Pro standards.
“In addition to the Carabao Cup, the same ball has been used successfully in other major European leagues, including both Italian League A The Spanish League and our three divisions in the English Premier League. “All clubs play with the same ball, and we have received no further comments of this kind following any of the previous 88 Carabao Cup matches played this season.”
Something for the winners… 🏆
As current owners @EmiratesFACup Season 23/24 @ManUnited The Ultimax Pro Limited Edition Gold Match Reel will be in play in the third round match against Arsenal on Sunday.
Let's see if they can reach the final… pic.twitter.com/LlekjNQAZh
– Mitre Sports (@MitreSports) January 9, 2025
Arteta's concerns about inadequate equipment could rise again when Arsenal host Manchester United in the league FA Cup third round on Sunday afternoon. Miter open Every cup match involving the current champions will be played with a unique “Gold Limited Edition Ultimax Pro” ball this season.
The gold color, not silver, is the only difference between the ball used in Sunday's match in the UAE and the other 63 matches in the third round. However, Miter is not the same company that produces it Premier League The ball that Arteta seems to value more than anything else, that honor belongs to Nike – for now.
Puma, the manufacturer of the controversial Carabao Cup design, has agreed a deal to supply the Premier League match ball from the 2025/26 season onwards.
Arteta was ridiculed for his weak attempt to explain what happened on Tuesday Losing 2-0 to NewcastleBut he's not the first manager to come up with vague excuses.
The Spaniard's former Barcelona teammate, Xavi Hernandez, was famous for complaining about any and all details he could think of. The grass was too long, the court too small, and the sun too strong.
until Guardiola He ignored his advice regarding excuses. After the Carabao Cup penalty shootout win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017 – which Arteta watched from the bench as assistant coach – the Manchester City manager complained: “This is unacceptable, the ball was unacceptable for a high-level competition.”
