Arteta praises his team’s effort despite missed chances and points out the difference in the ball used in the Carabao Cup compared to the Premier League

Mikel Arteta remains optimistic about Arsenal’s chances of reaching the Carabao Cup final, despite their 2-0 loss to Newcastle in the semi-final first leg on Tuesday. The Gunners struggled with finishing, hitting the post and wasting several chances, but Arteta believes the “tricky” ball used in the competition might have played a role.

Arsenal had 23 shots during the match but only three were on target, with Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz both missing clear opportunities. In his post-match comments, Arteta emphasized the difference in the ball, saying it “flies a lot” and has a distinct grip compared to the Premier League ball.

“We kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it’s tricky that these balls fly a lot,” Arteta explained. “There are details that we can do better, but at the end that’s gone – there’s no way back, it’s about the next game.”

Despite the defeat, Arteta was upbeat about his team’s performance, acknowledging Newcastle’s quality while stating that his squad can still turn things around in the second leg. “When I see the team play, and how we deal with a lot of situations and play against a very good team, I have full belief that we can go out there and do it.”

Arsenal’s shooting stats in the Carabao Cup this season have been strong, with 11 goals scored in their first three matches. However, the ball’s influence on the game cannot be overlooked. The ball in the Carabao Cup, made by Puma, differs significantly from the Nike balls used in the Premier League. Arteta elaborated on this, saying that the ball’s grip and flight require a period of adaptation.

Arsenal’s shooting accuracy in the EFL Cup has been relatively on par with their Premier League stats. In their Carabao Cup matches, 27 of 51 shots (53%) were on target, compared to 52% in the Premier League and 58% in the Champions League.