Arsenal’s Carabao Cup Exit: The Ball Controversy and Arteta’s Criticism Backfire
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg defeat to Newcastle United
Newcastle United’s emphatic 4-0 aggregate victory over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final sent shockwaves through football circles, especially as it marked another failure for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta’s management.
Newcastle’s Triumph and Arsenal’s Backlash
Goals from Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon were instrumental in securing Newcastle’s place in the Wembley final. The two goals—combined with their victories in the first leg—clinched the impressive 4-0 aggregate scoreline against their traditional rivals.
Arsenal’s defeat eliminated their best chance of winning a trophy this season, intensifying the scrutiny on Arteta’s team. This setback further adds pressure to Arteta, who has yet to win the FA Cup since taking charge in 2019.
The Ball Controversy
During the match, Newcastle fans seized upon an opportunity to satirize Arteta by singing: “It must be the ball, it must be the ball, Mikel Arteta, it must be the ball.” This chant was a direct reference to Arteta’s previous claims about the differences between the Carabao Cup ball and Premier League balls.
In a pre-match press conference, Arteta had expressed frustration about the ball used in the Carabao Cup, arguing that “it’s very different to a Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies differently. When you touch it, the grip is very different.”