The Premier League's very own Jabulani?! Goalkeepers left in 'fear' of new ball after two high-profile mistakes on opening weekend

Per The Sun, the new Premier League match ball has goalkeepers up and down the league worried. Puma have produced this season's ball, taking over from previous manufacturers Nike, and it has been compared to a "beach ball". It may well resemble the Jabulani, which infamously bamboozled goalkeepers at the 2010 World Cup. 

Mistakes took place at both Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge on the first weekend of the season; Altay Bayindir failed to catch a corner that came in as Arsenal scored their winner against Manchester United, while Robert Sanchez let a free-kick slip through his fingers against Crystal Palace, though he was handed a VAR reprieve. 

A goalkeeper, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Sun: “It is more like a volleyball and it moves in the air so much. The Nike one was not like that.

"I don’t ever remember a ball like this and I have got one at home to keep getting used to the feel of it.

“It is extremely slippery which makes it difficult to handle. There will be a lot of mistakes this season.

“The ball has apparently been made for strikers but they also struggle with it because of the movement.”

Another goalkeeper anonymously claimed the new ball is "horrible" and would limit the number of catches stoppers attempted. 

Last season, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticised the Puma match ball used in Carabao Cup competitions, doing so after the club's defeat to Newcastle United. 

He said: "It's just different. It's very different to the Premier League ball and you have to adapt to that.

“It flies differently... when you touch it, the grip is very different as well so you have to adapt to that.”

All eyes will be on the match ball when Chelsea face West Ham in the first game of the Premier League weekend on Friday.