'I'd never use it as an excuse' - Mikel Arteta walks back on Carabao Cup ball controversy as Arsenal prepare for 'different feeling' in FA Cup

After Arsenal lost 2-0 in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final to Newcastle in midweek, manager Arteta hinted the "tricky" Puma ball used in the competition contributed to their defeat. Ahead of facing United in the FA Cup third round this weekend, the Spaniard may have walked back his initial claim.

He said to reporters: "In Champions League it’s different, you’re relating to the question I got the other day about the ball and what I said is every ball is different. Champions League ball is different, grip different, fly different, feel different.That’s it, it's not an excuse it's a reality every pitch is different. Weather conditions change in football that’s the beauty of it. Never an excuse."

After Arteta made his ball remarks, the English Football League put forward a quick and robust rebuttal. Arsenal are close to being knocked out of the Carabao Cup, so they will not want to suffer an early FA Cup exit at the hands of the Red Devils on Sunday, either.

After Arteta's Arsenal host United on Sunday afternoon, they then entertain bitter rivals Tottenham at the Emirates in the Premier League on Wednesday.