Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has asked that a Carabao Cup ball be used during his side’s FA Cup Third Round clash with Arsenal on Sunday.
The Portuguese made the request after Mikel Arteta said the ball was responsible for Arsenal’s 2-0 semi-final first-leg loss to Newcastle.
Arteta blamed the ball, manufactured by Puma, for his team’s inability to hit the target with 20 of their 23 shots against Eddie Howe’s side.
When reflecting on Arsenal’s scoring struggles in his post-match press conference, the Spaniard said:
‘The Carabao ball is like a 50p flyaway you played with as a child’.
‘Every toe blaster would change direction three times like a Roberto Carlos free kick. Pure sh*te.
‘The Mitre Mouldmaster. Now that was a ball.’
‘It’s sad to think that there’s an entire generation of kids who will never experience the joy of being struck full force with a Mitre Mouldmaster on a bitterly cold day.
‘I bare the scars’, he revealed, while showing off the 30-year-old impressions on his inner-thigh.
EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS – OCTOBER 27: Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, looks on during the UEFA Europa League group A match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal FC at Phillips Stadium on October 27, 2022 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
On lobbying the FA to switch balls, United boss Amorim said:
‘I specifically asked for the tricky Carabao ball Arsenal used when they lost the semi-final’.
‘Not the ball they used against Bolton, Preston and Crystal Palace in the previous rounds of the competition.
‘They were able to score 11 goals with that ball which appeared to be fine.’
‘Besides, it will be fun to watch Declan Rice take corners with a flyaway’.
Meanwhile, former Southampton star Matt Le Tissier supported Arteta’s claims by offering this explanation.
‘Puma used to manufacture Arsenal’s kits before they jumped ship to Adidas.
‘Makes you think, doesn’t it?’
In related news, police have confirmed they have arrested Chelsea owner Todd Boehly in connection with a £65m robbery.
It follows Kai Havertz’s performance during Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle.
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