The Gunners were beaten 2-0 in the opening game at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday after Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon put the visitors in command of the tie.
But Arsenal wasted a number of chances throughout the game, recording six big chances from 23 shots, although just three were on Newcastle's goal.
Plenty of Arsenal's chances flew over the crossbar and Arteta said the competition's Puma ball, compared to the Premier League's Nike offering, could have impacted his team's efforts.
Asked what he could do to remedy his players' poor finishing, he said: "Nothing, just try and give them tips of what we can do better.
"I think we kicked a lot of the balls over the bar and it is tricky that this ball flies a lot. We discussed that as well, so there are details we can do better."
Pressed specifically on his gripes with the ball, Arteta added: "It's just different. Very different to the Premier League ball and you have to adapt to that.
"It flies different and when you touch it the grip is very different, so you adapt to that."
Arteta's counterpart in Eddie Howe saw no issues with the match equipment, instead hailing a "big step" taken by his Newcastle players ahead of February's second leg.