In the aftermath of Arsenal’s disappointing 2-0 loss to Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, Mikel Arteta sought to explain his side’s failure to convert several chances, including a glaring miss from Kai Havertz.
While the Gunners generated 3.76 expected goals, they were unable to find the back of the net, with Gabriel Martinelli and Havertz both squandering prime opportunities.
Arteta’s explanation for his team’s profligacy, however, seemed to border on the absurd. The Arsenal manager pointed to the ball used in the League Cup, claiming it was responsible for the team’s erratic finishing.
“It’s tricky. This ball flies a lot. It’s just different to the Premier League ball, and we have to adapt to that,” Arteta remarked. He added that the ball’s different grip made it harder for his players to maintain control, leading to their missed chances.
Despite Arsenal’s dominance in terms of expected goals, the Magpies showed clinical efficiency, with Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon scoring to put Newcastle in a commanding position ahead of the return leg.
Arteta’s defense of his team’s performance by blaming external factors like the ball instead of addressing the underlying issues left many questioning his approach to the team’s ongoing struggles in front of goal.
Newcastle, on the other hand, were able to take advantage of Arsenal’s defensive errors and lack of clinical finishing.
With a solid two-goal lead heading into the second leg, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe remained cautious, acknowledging that while his team’s confidence was high, the tie was far from over.
“We played with real confidence and belief, but in terms of the tie, it’s still very much alive,” Howe said.
As the pressure mounts on Arteta, Arsenal will need to regroup and address their finishing woes if they are to stand any chance in the second leg at St James’ Park