PATHETIC: Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta Blames The BALL for His Teams Embarrassing 2-0 Loss Against Newcastle

I’ve seen and done my fair share of embarrassing things in life. For instance, when I lost my virginity, the girl asked me if it was in, and I had no idea. Turns out, it wasn’t even close—it was awkwardly stuck between my comforter and her thigh. But as pathetic as that moment was, nothing compares to the excuse I recently heard for a team losing a game.

After Arsenal’s humiliating 2-0 loss at home to Newcastle, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta blamed the ball. Yes, you read that right—the ball. How can the manager of one of the biggest football clubs in the world stand in front of the media and say his team lost because the Carabao Cup ball is different from the one used in the Premier League? It’s absolutely ridiculous! Instead of deflecting blame onto a piece of equipment, how about holding your players accountable?

Arsenal’s attackers have been dreadful this season. These are professionals earning millions, yet some of them couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat. It’s not just a one-off incident, either. This has been the story of their season: dominating possession, creating chance after chance, only to come up empty-handed when it matters most. Time and again, Arsenal has failed to convert opportunities into goals, and it’s painfully obvious why they’re struggling. The forwards simply aren’t good enough.

The real question is: why hasn’t Arteta addressed this glaring issue? The need for a top-tier striker has been clear for months—if not longer. Yet, for some reason, Arteta seems reluctant to make the necessary upgrades to his squad. Whether it’s loyalty to underperforming players or a misplaced belief that things will magically improve, his inaction is costing the team. If this trend continues, Arsenal won’t just go another season without a trophy; Arteta might find himself out of a job.

At the end of the day, football is a results-driven business. Excuses about balls, referees, or unlucky bounces don’t cut it at this level. If Arteta wants to keep his position and see Arsenal return to their glory days, he must take decisive action to fix the team’s attacking woes. Otherwise, the club’s ambitions will remain as misaligned as my teenage misadventures.

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