Arsenal have been dealt a slight curveball ahead of their clash against Manchester United. Mikel Arteta will lock horns with Ruben Amorim at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as they both look to book a place in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Gunners will be looking to return to winning ways after losing 2-0 to Newcastle United in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday. As for United, who will have had longer to prepare, they'll be on cloud nine after holding Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in the Premier League on Sunday.

Nevertheless, this weekend's heavyweight bout will be different to every other FA Cup third-round tie across the country. Mitre has announced that a gold limited edition Ultimax Pro match ball will be used in Arsenal's clash against United – rather than a standard white match ball.

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A change to the match ball could be Arteta's worst nightmare following the Spaniard's complaints earlier this week. After Newcastle stormed past Arsenal, the Gunners boss raised eyebrows when he attributed his side's defeat to how different the Carabao Cup ball (made by Puma) felt compared to a Premier League ball (made by Nike).

"I think we kicked a lot of the balls over the bar and it's tricky because this ball flies a lot, and we discussed that as well," said Arteta. "So there are details that we can do better. But, in the end, that's gone. You know, this is no way back. It's about the next game, and that's the reality of our world."

He added: "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."

The EFL later issued a statement in response to Arteta, insisting that 'all clubs play with the same ball'. As quoted by The Guardian, it read: "As is required throughout the professional game, the Puma ball used in this season’s Carabao Cup and in EFL competition since 2021-22 is tested in accordance with the Fifa Quality Programme for Footballs, and meets the Fifa Quality Pro standard.

"In addition to the Carabao Cup, the same ball has been successfully used in other major European leagues, including both Serie A and La Liga and our three divisions in the EFL. All clubs play with the same ball, and we have received no further comments of this nature following any of the previous 88 fixtures which have taken place in this season’s Carabao Cup."

A professor and director at Loughborough University also commented on the matter, comparing the change in match ball for a footballer to a change in paintbrush for an artist. Andy Harland said: "If he was saying his players noted a difference between the Carabao Cup ball and the one that is used in the Premier League, then that doesn’t surprise me.

"Top level players are masters of their craft and will adapt their technique and style of play to a different ball just like a racing driver would adapt to their car or an artist would adapt to their paintbrush. I sensed Arteta was simply commenting on this difference in response to a question he was asked, but I don’t believe anyone suggesting the ball was unfair is justified.

"Plenty of players and managers complain about balls along with many other things, however, not many do so after they have won!"