Carabao Cup organisers mock Mikel Arteta after Arsenal boss' odd complaint

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been ridiculed by Carabao Cup organisers after he suggested that the match ball used in their game against Newcastle contributed to their defeat at the Emirates.

Newcastle secured a significant advantage towards reaching Wembley with an impressive 2-0 victory in the first leg of the semi-final.

Alexander Isak continued his exceptional form by scoring his 10th goal in nine games before Anthony Gordon doubled the lead for the visitors in the second half.

Despite registering 23 shots, Arsenal only managed to get three on target, with Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz missing crucial opportunities to score.

Following the defeat, Arteta pointed out that the PUMA match ball used in the Carabao Cup is different from the Nike ball used in the Premier League. Before the first leg of their semi-final clash, Arsenal had scored 11 times in the Carabao Cup this season.

"We kicked a lot of balls over the bar," Arteta commented. "It’s tricky. This ball flies a lot. It’s just very different to the Premier League ball and we have to adapt to that. It flies different, and the grip is very different as well."

The Carabao Cup X account, which boasts nearly 600,000 followers, reposted a clip of Arteta discussing the ball during his post-match press conference, accompanied by a meme of US rapper 50 Cent looking exasperated, seemingly mocking the Arsenal manager's remarks.

Arteta remains confident for the second leg at St James’ Park on 5 February: "There is a long way to go and it’s just half-time.e insisted. When I see the team play, and how we deal with a lot of situations and play against a very good team I must say I have full belief that we can go out there and do it.

"We will have more players back and we will have more options and the freshness that we’re going to need in that period."

The burden rests on Arteta to secure his second piece of silverware with Arsenal after clinching an FA Cup in 2020, as the Gunners gear up for their FA Cup kick-off against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium this Sunday.

Unwavering, Arteta affirmed: "We’ll focus on this performance, what we have done, why we didn’t win the game and understand that and make improvements and recharge."

"We need a lot of energy. We have a big game here against United in a different competition, so let’s move on. You have to turn things around."

On the flip side, Eddie Howe's Newcastle side are on a winning streak of seven games, nurturing aspirations of besting either Liverpool or Tottenham to secure their first domestic trophy since 1955 following their impressive triumph in north London.

Yet, with Newcastle positioned fifth in the Premier League, Howe avoids getting ahead of himself.

He said: "I have no problem with our supporters and what they want to think, but when you are in my shoes you have to be strategic.

"You have to plan well and think what is ahead of you in the next few days. And that is what we have always done and that is what we will always do.

"The second leg is in the future and we will really look forward to that games when it comes round. But it now goes out of my focus until it needs to come back in."