David Raya has a strange explanation for Arsenal’s defeat to Liverpool has left fans scratching their heads. The keeper pointed the blame at the PL’s new Puma match ball.
Arsenal David Raya blames the ball, not the glove
When Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick flew past him late on, many thought David Raya had been caught flat-footed. But, the Arsenal goalkeeper insisted the Puma Orbita ball was the real culprit.
According to him, the new design moves differently in the air compared to the Nike ball used in recent seasons. He claimed the grip and flight make it tricky for keepers to judge. He hinted that Szoboszlai’s strike moved more than expected.
🗣️ David Raya on the new Puma ball: "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." pic.twitter.com/u6cdiShaUg
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) August 31, 2025
While Mikel Arteta once raised a similar concern during a cup tie last year, Raya’s timing has sparked debate. Arsenal’s wait for a league win at Anfield dates back to 2012.
Liverpool push on, Gunners left questioning
The outcome saw Liverpool sit top of the table with a perfect start heading into the international break. Szoboszlai’s winner was an amazing strike. It showed that the Reds tend to find big moments when the games look tight.
Meanwhile, Arsenal were accused of being uninspired with Peter Schmeichel calling it ugly. Fans online echoed there was a sense of Gunners were happy with what they got rather than chasing the match.
Raya’s comments about the Puma ball only added fuel to the fire. The critics suggesting it sounded like deflection rather than accountability. The PL insists the new ball improves aerodynamics and consistency. But right now, all it’s improving is Liverpool’s title push.
Author’s Opinion
It feels silly to be angry at the ball. The free-kick was top class and Raya should take responsibility and not shift the blame. The Champions adjusted and didn’t have to make any excuses in the end.