BAFFLED football fans are convinced cheeky Arsenal STOLE an FA Cup football from Leicester City.
And one disgruntled Foxes supporter jokingly pleaded with the Gunners to return their property.
GettyArsenal and Liverpool played with the yellow Mitre FA Cup ball at the Emirates[/caption]
BBCFans reckon the Gunners stole this football from Leicester City[/caption]
The Gunners lost 2-0 to Liverpool at the Emirates in the third round of the famous competition.
But during the tie in North London, some eagle-eyed viewers were left utterly bamboozled when Arsenal right-back Ben White took a throw-in.
The cameras zoomed in on the £50million ex-Brighton defender holding the yellow FA Cup Mitre ball above his head.
But one popular Leicester City fan, who goes by @lee78lcfc on Instagram, shared a screenshot of the moment.
That is because the ball appears to have the initials “LCFC” written on it twice in black ink.
That prompted the Leicester supporter to write: “Can we have our ball back please @arsenal?”
Other supporters of Enzo Maresca’a high-flying Championship leaders chipped in with comments and theories behind the mystery ball.
Leicester played across London yesterday, beating Millwall 3-2 as the 2021 winners booked their spot in round four.
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So one suggested Arsenal “nabbed it from The Den.”
Another, meanwhile, thinks it might have something to do with the referee.
John Brooks was the man in the middle for the Arsenal vs Liverpool game and is from Leicestershire so could have got the ball beforehand from connections at the King Power.
A further plausible explanation is to do with Arsenal’s local neighbours.
There are seven registered football clubs in England whose initials are LCFC.
That includes Leicester City, Lincoln City, Lancaster City, Lichfield City, Little Common, Long Crendon and London Colney.
Arsenal’s training ground is in London Colney just off the M25 in Hertfordshire, just 2.5 miles from the Blueboys’ Cotlandswick Park stadium.
So it could be that the Combined Counties League Division One side donated some leftover Mitre FA Cup balls to the Gunners which were deemed surplus to requirements as it appears they did not enter the 2023-24 competition.
‘MUST BE TOUGH’
A few more Twitter users chipped in with some more witty comments, though.
One Leicester fan replied: “Things must be tough down your neck of the woods.”
Another viewer quipped: “I think Arsenal may be looking at a points deduction for playing with a stolen ball.”
And a final supporter typed: “Basically Premier League teams are the same as grassroots teams and ‘inherit’ balls from other clubs!!!”
Arsenal, though, could now give the ball on to Leicester City after Mikel Arteta’s side were dumped out by Liverpool.
After wasting a host of good chances, the Gunners were made to pay as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s whipped free-kick was headed into his own net by Jakub Kiwior prompting wild celebrations.
Then deep into injury time, Luis Diaz rifled into the top corner to seal the win.
It means Liverpool booked their spot in the fourth-round draw alongside Leicester.
Goals from Cesare Casadei, Ricardo Pereira and Tom Cannon ensured the 2016 Premier League champions saw off the Lions in South London.
Leicester were 3-2 winners away at Millwall on SaturdayGetty
AlamyJohn Brooks, from Leicestershire, refereed the FA Cup clash[/caption]
