This article was updated on January 9 to reflect the ball used in Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie between Arsenal and Manchester United.
Mikel Arteta was never in doubt.
The Arsenal manager was analyzing Tuesday’s painful 2-0 home loss to Newcastle United in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final when, without prompting from any journalist present, he pointed out that his side were unable to convert. You’ve raised an issue that I don’t think will help explain why. All of his 23 shots on the night were on goal.
“We also kicked a lot of balls over the bar and it was tricky with a lot of these balls flying, so there are details we can do better,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference.
When later asked to elaborate on his comments, he added: “(Carabao Cup balls) are very different to Premier League balls, they fly differently so you have to adapt to that. “The grip feels very different when you touch it, so you get used to it,” he said.
Arsenal were certainly profligate, with Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Jurien Timbers all squandering good chances. But was the ball used (an Orbita 1 made by German manufacturer Puma) really to blame?
Newcastle forwards Alexander Isaac and Anthony Gordon looked untroubled as they converted their side’s chances and the ball failed to stop Arsenal in the previous round of the competition, where they had scored 11 goals in three games against Preston North End. , Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace.
Arteta’s complaint was met with skepticism from many quarters, including the English Football League (EFL), which hosts the Carabao Cup, the second-highest cup competition in English football after the FA Cup.
“In addition to the Carabao Cup, the same ball has also been used successfully in other major European leagues, including Serie A, La Liga and the three divisions of the EFL,” it said in a statement. “All clubs play with the same ball (in the competition) and for the previous 88 matches played in the Carabao Cup this season we have not received any further comments of this nature.”
Puma has not responded yet athleticThis is a request for your opinion.
But was Arteta’s outburst really that strange? In the end, there are two external factors (other than the players) that really affect the outcome of a football game. It’s the stadium and the ball. So it stands to reason that unexpected changes in either could potentially affect the results.
As Premier League clubs, Arsenal and Newcastle are used to training and playing using Nike Flight balls. American company Nike has been supplying soccer balls used in England’s top division as ball manufacturer on behalf of British company Miter since the 2000-01 season, and players have been preparing and playing with Nike balls in league matches ever since. However, sometimes changes need to be made.
Arsenal will also compete in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Champions League this season, with different balls (made by different manufacturers) used in each match. In addition to Puma’s Orbita 1, Adidas supplies the balls for the Champions League and the Miter balls for the FA Cup.
It was confirmed on Thursday that the ball used in Sunday’s third-round match against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium will be a special gold edition of the Ultimax Pro model commemorating United’s victory in last season’s competition.
A gift for the winner… 🏆
As the current holder @EmiratesFACup 23/24 season, @ManUtd This gold limited edition Ultimax Pro match ball will be used in Sunday’s third round match against Arsenal.
Let’s see if they can make it to the finals… pic.twitter.com/LlekjNQAZh
— Miter Sports (@MitreSports) January 9, 2025
Although they all have similar dimensions and are made of similar materials, small changes to the design can make a noticeable difference.“The more ‘perfect’ the ball is, the more likely it is to have irregularities,” says Justin Lea, founder of ball manufacturer Hayworth Athletic. “Everyone is different. If you look at the FIFA ball rules, there are bounds to everything. The ball is the field. There is a range to the sphericity of the ball and the bounce of the ball only if it is wet.”
According to the rules of the game, a regulation size 5 ball must have a circumference of 68 to 70 cm (26.8 to 27.6 inches) and a weight of 410 to 450 grams (14 to 16 ounces) at the start of play. It must also be inflated to a pressure of 0.6-1.1 bar at sea level.
The Premier League is using the Nike Flight 2024 ball (Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
“There’s a certain level of intuition with the ball,” says Lea. “Select’s Brilliant Super, for example, goes where you want it to go. However, the more ‘perfect’ the ball is, the more likely it is to be irregular. Some products using heat bonding technology and advanced materials may become spherical, changing their dynamics and trajectory. They can go in many different directions.”
At the 2010 Men’s World Cup in South Africa, discussions were dominated by fans blowing vuvuzelas, trumpet-shaped instruments, and honking horns in the stands. Adidas’ now-infamous Jabulani has also become a hot topic, becoming one of the most recognized and controversial balls in the sport’s modern history.
The Jabulani is constructed from eight heat-bonded panels with a textured surface (dubbed Grip ‘n’ Groove by adidas) that is said to improve aerodynamics. But it proved to be a nightmare for the players at that World Cup, with goalkeepers and outfield players alike complaining about balls deflecting uncontrollably after being kicked.
“It’s sad that such an important competition has such an important element of the ball in such appalling condition.” Iker Casillas, whose Spanish team will win the final, said in comments reported by the BBC. Brazilian player Julio Cesar described it as “horrible” and like “something from the supermarket,” according to Brazilian news outlet O Globo.
Casillas didn’t like the Jabulani ball at the 2010 World Cup (Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images)
One of the most vocal opponents was former Liverpool midfielder Craig Johnston. After his playing career ended, he became an expert in applying science to football equipment and helped design the original Adidas Predator boot. In a 12-page letter of protest to then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter, which was obtained by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Johnstone said: “Anyone responsible for this should be found guilty of crimes against football and executed by firing squad. “It has to be,” he wrote.
The general contemporary opinion surrounding the Jabulani is that it is not fit for purpose but is not universally disliked.
Clint Dempsey, who sneaked a shot under goalkeeper Rob Green’s body in the USMNT’s 1-1 group stage draw with England, said in a pre-tournament press conference, as reported by FOX Sports: Be good with the ball… Sometimes you just have to be a little more careful when passing the ball.”
It also provided a decisive tournament for former Uruguay and Manchester United striker Diego Forlan.
His former national teammate Diego Abreu revealed in a 2020 interview with Uruguayan outlet El Futbolero that Forlán had asked Adidas to send him the Jabulani three months before the World Cup, and that he would use them for shooting and shooting. He said he would practice free kicks. As a result, Forlán scored five goals to help Uruguay advance to the semi-finals, becoming the tournament’s joint top scorer. Such was his mastery over Jabulani that he left South Africa with the Goal of the Tournament award and the Golden Ball, awarded to the man voted the best player of the competition.
Forlan practiced extensively with Jabulani before the 2010 World Cup (Rodrigo Arangua/AFP via Getty Images)
Jabulani remains the most extreme modern example of the impact football has on the quality and trajectory of a shot, and it is unlikely we will ever see an outlier like this again. Nonetheless, many players notice a noticeable difference when switching between balls from different manufacturers, even after 15 years.
Former Reading and Cardiff City striker Adam Le Fondre said: “When I went to the Premier League and started using the Nike ball compared to the Miter ball in the Championship, I felt a lot lighter.” “I felt like I was going to have a little more movement.
“The maitre ball was similar to a cannon ball. They will not move or deviate from the plan. They will act in a straightforward manner. As a striker, you may want to give yourself a bit more wiggle room, or even if you don’t connect well, the Nike ball from the Premier League may still be in there. help.”
This doesn’t just happen in soccer.
Last October, Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Reddick complained about the NBA’s use of new basketballs instead of ones that were already broken.
“We’re sending out a request tomorrow for the league to play with old basketballs,” Reddick, who previously spent 15 seasons in the NBA as a player, said in his postgame press conference. “I’m not sure why we can’t actually play games with the new basketballs. Anyone who has ever touched a new NBA ball feels and feels different than an old basketball.”
Lakers coach Reddick wasn’t satisfied with using new basketballs instead of old ones. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
At the beginning of the 2021-22 season, the NBA changed the ball manufacturer from Spalding to Wilson, which was cited as one of the reasons for the sluggish shooting rate across the league. “It’s just different basketball. It doesn’t have the same touch and softness as a Spalding ball.” Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George said in the postgame press conference. “You’re going to see a lot of bad mistakes this year. You’ve seen plenty of airballs (shots that miss the hoop, the net, or even the backboard completely). Again, I’m not trying to criticize or excuse basketball. is different.”
It wasn’t long before players got used to the different feel of the Wilson ball and shooting percentages rose again. Nonetheless, it highlights how minor differences can impact elite athletes who are accustomed to specific equipment.
Arsenal used the Puma Orvita 1 for training on Monday in the short window between Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Brighton and the meeting with Newcastle. The Carabao Cup was one round earlier than Arsenal’s, with the latter receiving a bye as they qualified for Europe. But judging by his comments, Arteta will be wondering whether he should release it sooner to prepare for the crucial second leg at St James’ Park on February 5.
Moreover, the extra time his players have on the ball could prepare the likes of Forlan for next season. Puma has signed a deal to become the Official Football Supplier of the Premier League from 2025-26.
(Top photo: Arteta and controversial Orbita 1; Getty Images)
