The EFL have made a statement in defence of the Carabao Cup match ball after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said it was “tricky”.

Mikel Arteta lamented Arsenal’s inefficiency in front of goal compared to Newcastle and Alexander Isak, but backed his players to turn around the 2-0 Carabao Cup deficit – so long as they adapt to the “tricky” ball being used in the competition.

The EFL have defended the ball used in Carabao Cup matches after Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta suggested it may have been a factor in defeat to the Newcastle.

League Cup organisers have poked fun at Mikel Arteta after the Arsenal manager suggested the "tricky" match ball played a part in his side's defeat by Newcastle.Arteta is under pressure to deliver his second trophy as Arsenal manager,

Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Newcastle United in the first leg of Arsenal's semifinal tie in the Carabao Cup was the latest example of the struggles manager Mikel Arteta is having to deal with personnel-wise.

The English Football League (EFL) has defended its Carabao Cup match ball after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta suggested it contributed to his team's poor shooting in their 2-0 semi-final first leg defeat to Newcastle United.

Mikel Arteta has been mocked by the Carabao Cup organisers after he suggested the match ball used for the competition impacted Arsenal's defeat to Newcastle

EFL has fired back at Mikel Arteta with a strong-worded statement after a perplexing criticism of the Carabao Cup match ball by the Arsenal manager.