Arsenal and Brentford shot-stopper David Raya has launched a scathing critique of the Premier League's new official match ball, branding it "too light" and dangerously unpredictable for goalkeepers. The Spaniard's comments come in the wake of a contentious free-kick during the recent clash with Liverpool.
The new Puma ball, introduced for the current season, is at the centre of a growing debate after a Trent Alexander-Arnold set-piece dipped and swerved viciously, leaving Raya rooted to the spot. While the effort cannoned off the crossbar, it served as a stark warning for keepers across the division.
"It's a very different ball, very light," Raya explained. "It moves a lot. You can see it in the Premier League, with all the goals scored from long range and free-kicks. It's very difficult to hold and to read its movement."
Raya's assessment points to a significant shift in the game's dynamics. The ball's altered aerodynamics appear to favour attacking players, enabling them to generate more dip and swerve from distance, thereby turning speculative efforts into genuine goal threats.
This technological change could explain the noticeable surge in spectacular long-range goals and successful free-kicks witnessed in the early stages of the campaign, leaving goalkeepers like Raya scrambling for answers and facing a new, formidable challenge between the posts.
