The Premier League is set for a major shake-up next season as Puma takes over from Nike as the league’s official match ball provider. The move, which will see Puma supply balls for the next six seasons, marks the end of Nike’s 25-year dominance in England’s top flight.
However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is unlikely to be pleased with the decision, having previously criticized Puma’s match balls during this season’s Carabao Cup.
Arteta openly voiced his displeasure with the Puma-manufactured balls following Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle in January, which saw them crash out of the Carabao Cup.
“I think we kicked a lot of the balls over the bar and it’s tricky that this ball flies a lot,” Arteta said after the match.
Read also: The 25 Best Strikers in World Football Right Now - Ranked from Lowest to Highest
“It’s just different, it’s just very different to the Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies different. When you touch it, the grip is very different as well, so you have to adapt to that.”
Arsenal’s shooting woes that night backed up his frustration. The Gunners registered just three shots on target from 23 attempts, struggling to control their efforts with the Puma ball.
A New Era for the Premier League
Puma has already been supplying balls for the English Football League (EFL) since the 2021/22 season, covering the Championship, League One, League Two, the Carabao Cup, and the EFL Trophy. The company will now expand its reach to the biggest league in world football, ending Nike’s quarter-century legacy.
Nike’s final campaign as the Premier League’s ball supplier has been marked by nostalgia, with the re-release of the classic T90 Aerow I, a fan-favorite used between 2004 and 2006.
Read also: The 10 Managers with most points per game in Champions League
EFL Defends Puma’s Balls
Despite Arteta’s complaints, the EFL defended Puma’s match balls, stating they had passed all required FIFA tests. While Arsenal may have struggled with them in the Carabao Cup, Puma’s balls will soon become the norm in the Premier League—whether Arteta likes it or not.
With Puma now set to shape the way the game is played in England’s top tier, clubs and players will need to adjust. And for Arsenal, Arteta will be hoping his team adapts better than they did at St. James’ Park.
