Why can't Mikel Arteta just accept defeat when Arsenal fall to the mighty Newcastle United?

There are few things we enjoy more here at the Feed, than a Mikel Arteta-led Arsenal meltdown. We didn't quite get one last night after Newcastle United left the Emirates with a two-goal lead heading into next month's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, but we did get a brain-melting excuse.

Part of the morning ritual here at NUFC Feed is that we take some of those famous Mikel Arteta tears from two years ago and dab them on our foreheads. It keeps us looking young.

We didn't get any fresh tears last night despite Newcastle, particularly Eddie Howe's, tactical masterclass which saw the Magpies take a two-goal lead and then park the bus.

However, we did get one of the all-time great excuses for defeat, ever. And honestly, when you break it down, it just gets even more baffling.

Why can't Arteta just accept he lost, no excuses?

Here is the quote in question from Arteta's post-match press conference:

"It’s just different, very different to a Premier League ball and you have to adapt to that because it flies differently. When you touch it, the grip is very different as well, so you have to adapt to that."

That's the Carabao Cup ball he's talking about here. The same ball they've played with all the way to the semi-final. Well, we say all the way, they did get to skip a round due to the Champions League, but they've still had experience with said ball.

Newcastle must have been given a different ball to play with

Blaming the ball for a defeat is a wild enough prospect as it is but here's the real kicker ... Newcastle played with the same ball and we managed to score twice.

Even Arsenal fans were embarrassed by what he said. Highbury House couldn't believe it, and earlier on, they actually said they wouldn't want to sign Alexander Isak.

We may delve more into the Arsenal reactions later - in fact, we definitely will because there was a caller on TalkSport last night who we simply cannot ignore.