Mikel Arteta bizarrely blames the Carabao Cup BALL for Arsenal’s missed chances against Newcastle… as he bemoans his side ‘kicking a lot over the bar’ during their 2-0 defeat in the first leg

Mikel Arteta bizarrely brought up the match ball when breaking down Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat by Newcastle.

In the Carabao Cup, a Puma ball is used, whereas a Nike ball is used in the Premier League.

When asked about Arsenal’s missed chances — they had 23 shots, but just three on target — Arteta replied: ‘We also kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it’s tricky that these balls fly a lot so there’s details that we can do better.

‘But at the end that’s gone, there’s no way back it’s about the next game and that’s our world, the reality.’

When pressed further on the issue, Arteta added: ‘No, it’s just different. It’s very different to the Premier League ball and you have to adapt to that.

‘It flies different… when you touch it, the grip is very different as well so you have to adapt to that.’

Mikel Arteta bizarrely brought up the ball when breaking down Arsenal’s defeat by Newcastle

Arsenal missed several chances as they had 23 shots, but just three of these were on target

Arteta claimed the Puma Carabao Cup ball was ‘different’ and said that ‘these balls fly a lot’ 

When Arteta was Manchester City assistant manager, Pep Guardiola branded the Mitre ball used in a Carabao Cup last-16 tie victory against Wolves in October 2017, as ‘highly unacceptable’.

Isak, who has long been linked to the Gunners, scored one and was involved in the build-up to Newcastle’s second goal — Anthony Gordon finished off the striker’s deflected shot.

On Isak, Arteta added: ‘The ball arrived to him, he created and had a lot of big chances. He was involved in both goals as well. 

‘Unfortunately the two times he had the ball in the box and that’s what happens when you have real quality up front and they can make the difference, and they’re very clinical.’

Isak scored his 14th goal in 15 games and the Toon picked up their seventh successive victory as they hunt down a first major domestic trophy in nearly seven decades.

Eddie Howe was full of praise for his star man, but said Isak had to manage a hamstring issue — something he will hope is not a problem ahead of the second leg at St James’ Park on February 5.

Eddie Howe praised Alexander Isak, although he revealed he came off due to a hamstring issue

He said: ‘First half he was electric, I thought he played really well. He scored but I just thought his general game was in a really good place.

‘He was feeling his hamstring a bit at half-time so we had to manage him in the second half and that was a big blow to our performance.

‘He’s so important, we can’t risk losing him. Hopefully he’s OK.’