Arsenal’s David Raya has come under fire for his comments surrounding the ball following his side’s defeat to Liverpool.
The Gunners played out a tense match against the Reds at Anfield, where the difference came from a wonderstrike from range.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s effort from 32 yards flew off the post and into the back of the net, beating the outstretched hand of David Raya.
There was little the Arsenal shotstopper could do as he watched on with his team, unable to claw back a point.
While there was plenty of praise for the effort itself, one question surrounding the new Premier League ball has brought up some controversy.
Clinton Morrison slams David Raya for new ball comment after Liverpool vs Arsenal
This season has brought about a new ball in the Premier League, as the Nike option has been replaced with Puma.
Given the movement on the strike from Szoboszlai, which was the decisive moment in Arsenal’s defeat to Liverpool, Raya was quizzed about the difference.
“It’s different to the Nike ball so we have to adapt to it,” he said to Sky Sports. “The grip is different, the kick is different.
“We just have to adapt after playing with the Nike ball for many years. It’s the same for everybody. We wanted to go forward to attack them, to keep them quiet in the first half.
“We showed a lot of character to keep Liverpool quiet. You have to take the positives from it. It’s fine margins and a magical moment from them.
“We haven’t been beaten from the top six clubs in many games. There are a lot of steps forward to take and learn in every single aspect. There’s always things you have to learn.”
It was something that former footballer Clinton Morrison just wasn’t having, as he slammed the claim from Raya.
He said on the Football Daily podcast: “But you know, he’s obviously saying he’s not making excuses, but there is a slight excuse in there, there’s a little bit of one in there.
“He’s basically saying if it was a Nike ball, I’d save it. So there’s something wrong with the Puma ball. No chance.”
While others may not have been happy with the comments, Raya was simply sharing his thoughts on the question.
Can different footballs impact players during the match
It’s not the first time that Arsenal have been associated with a change in ball over the course of the past year.
Arteta questioned the Carabao Cup ball and the struggles with using that during the competition compared to their usual league balls.
Given how much training is done with a certain type of ball, and how quick and instinctual football can be, a slight tweak to how it moves on the ground or in the air can make an impact.
It is, of course, the same for all teams.
The most famous example may well be the 2010 World Cup, the Jabulani, which was known for how different it moved in the air.
While the new Puma ball certainly isn’t on that level of movement, it’s something goalkeepers and players alike will have to keep in mind while everyone adjusts.
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