League Cup organisers mocked Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after he blamed the “tricky” match ball for his side’s 2-0 semifinal first-leg loss to Newcastle.
The defeat, marked by goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, left Arsenal facing an uphill battle to reach the Wembley final. Despite registering 23 shots, the Gunners struggled with accuracy, landing only three on target.
Arteta suggested the ball, made by Puma for the League Cup, differed significantly from the Nike-manufactured Premier League ball. “It’s tricky. This ball flies a lot. It’s very different to the Premier League ball, and we have to adapt,” he said post-match.
In response, the Carabao Cup’s official X account shared a clip of Arteta’s comments alongside a meme of rapper 50 Cent looking exasperated, poking fun at the manager’s excuse.
Arsenal will need to overturn the deficit in the second leg at St James’ Park on February 5 to secure a spot in the final against either Tottenham or Liverpool. Meanwhile, Arteta faces mounting pressure to end Arsenal’s five-year trophy drought, with a crucial FA Cup tie against Manchester United looming.
