Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has offered an eyebrow-raising explanation for conceding to Dominik Szoboszlai’s sublime free-kick in the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat to Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. Mikel Arteta’s side have not won at Anfield since 2012, and while many pointed to their own performance issues as the reason, Raya suggested the goal came down to something else entirely.
Liverpool head into the first international break of the season top of the table with a perfect record, thanks to Szoboszlai’s stunning strike less than 10 minutes from time. It wasn’t a classic in the way some of the Reds’ other games have been this season, but they still managed to ease past their nearest title rivals. Watch the goal below:
Peter Schmeichel admitted afterwards that he was rooting for Liverpool because of what he described as Arsenal’s “ugly” brand of football, while many fans online claimed Arteta’s side had set up merely to nick a result from a set piece. Raya, however, bizarrely placed the blame elsewhere - on the new Puma match ball.
Raya Blames Puma Ball For Liverpool Goal
Dominik Szoboszlai
The Spanish shot-stopper insinuated that the new Puma match ball's unpredictable flight was behind Szoboszlai’s winner, echoing comments previously made by Arteta, who also blamed the ball when Arsenal struggled to convert their chances in last season’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle. He told Sky Sports (watch his interview below):
"It's different to the Nike ball, so we have to adapt to it. 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.”
Raya also praised Szoboszlai's brilliance from the set-piece, adding: “I think it's a hell of a strike. I remember the ball moving a lot and moving away from me. Hopefully, the next one I can save. It's a very good strike especially with the new balls and everything. We still have to adapt. It's going away from me so it's harder to gauge and save it.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Premier League - Liverpool v Arsenal - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - August 31, 2025 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta REUTERS/Phil Noble
The Premier League has introduced Puma balls for the 2025/26 season, with the Puma Orbita Ultimate PL being used throughout the upcoming campaign.
On the Premier League website, the league explains that the ball has “enlarged and deeper seams designed to improve aerodynamics and maintain shape retention”, and first saw use at the Premier League Summer Series in the USA over pre-season.