Jamie Redknapp sends warning to Mikel Arteta over bizarre ball criticism – as the Arsenal boss is accused of ‘making excuses’ for his side’s defeat

Jamie Redknapp has fired a warning to Mikel Arteta over his bizarre criticism of the ball used in his side’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat by Newcastle.

Arteta’s side are up against it in their bid to reach the final of the competition, having lost 2-0 at home on Tuesday night, meaning they must soon go to one of the form teams in the country and win by two goals.

After the game, the Gunners boss questioned the ball used in the game, saying: ‘We also kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it’s tricky that these balls fly a lot so there’s details that we can do better. But at the end that’s gone, there’s no way back it’s about the next game and that’s our world, the reality.’

When pressed further on the issue, Arteta added: ‘No, it’s just different. It’s very different to the Premier League ball and you have to adapt to that.

‘It flies different… when you touch it, the grip is very different as well so you have to adapt to that.’

And Redknapp, speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage of the second semi-final between Tottenham and Newcastle, pointed out something that Arteta may not be too encouraged by.

Arteta said the ball is ‘very different to the Premier League ball and you have to adapt to that’

Redknapp, however, highlighted how Puma balls will be used in the Premier League from the start of next season

‘We were there last night, I was amazed he came out with that,’ Redknapp said. ‘I was disappointed he said it when we were on air.

‘We have all heard excuses. I get it is different because of the Nike ball compared to the puma ball, but the only problem he has got next year is that it the Puma ball will be used in the Premier League.’

Michael Dawson, meanwhile, backed up Redknapp’s claim, and suggested that Arteta was simply looking for something to blame for his side’s defeat.

Arsenal were wasteful in front of goal again, registering an expected goals total of more than three but failing to find the back of the net.

‘There is a difference, but would I have come out and said it after last night’s performance,’ Dawson said. ‘Definitely not.

‘Mikel Arteta is making excuses. They will have trained with that ball, there is no doubt about that. I experienced it in 2010 at the South Africa World Cup.

‘You can’t make those excuses, they didn’t miss the chances or put in a performance like that because of it.

‘I was surprised he came out and said it.

Michael Dawson suggested that Arteta was ‘making excuses’ for his side’s defeat on the night

Arsenal must overturn a two-goal deficit away from home to reach the Carabao Cup final

Izzy Christiansen added: ‘It is probably a deflective mechanism to deflect from the performance. It was a sub-par performance.

‘He has come out with a bizarre statement about the ball, but at the next press conference he will be asked about the ball. It is probably great, it is probably what he wants.

Redknapp suggested: ‘Isak seemed to like it, he thinks it is a lovely ball.’