Arsenal Pertahankan Posisi Persaingan Gelar Usai Tekuk Newcastle United

Arsenal terus menempel ketat Manchester City dalam persaingan gelar juara Liga Primer setelah menumbangkan Newcastle United di Emirates Stadium pada Sabtu, 25 April 2026. Kemenangan ini diraih meski The Gunners harus kehilangan pencetak gol Eberechi Eze dan Kai Havertz akibat cedera.

Eberechi Eze mencetak gol pembuka pada menit kesembilan setelah memanfaatkan skema tendangan sudut pendek yang gagal diantisipasi pertahanan tim tamu. Kekalahan ini memperburuk catatan Newcastle United yang telah menelan delapan kekalahan dari 11 pertandingan liga terakhir mereka di tahun 2026.

Mantan striker Crystal Palace melalui BBC Radio 5 Live memberikan analisisnya mengenai jalannya pertandingan di London Utara tersebut.

"Slightly surprised that Nick Pope is back in goal for Newcastle, I think Eddie Howe is just tinkering to try and find that right concoction to get a little bit more out of this Newcastle team. I was at their last game and they were extremely flat, as they have been on the road quite a lot this season. So far, I understand they are 1-0 down, but I actually think they have been the better team." ujar mantan striker Crystal Palace, komentator BBC Radio 5 Live.

Pengamat tersebut juga menyoroti bagaimana Newcastle gagal mengantisipasi strategi bola mati Arsenal yang berujung pada gol tunggal pertandingan tersebut.

"Newcastle United named a side with physicality in mind, not least because of Arsenal's threat from corners when the ball is swung into the box. But the visitors are ultimately undone by a short routine - and how they will rue leaving Eberechi Eze open there. They had enough warning from Arsenal's previous corners. A huge test now for a group who have looked drained of confidence of late." kata mantan striker Crystal Palace, komentator BBC Radio 5 Live.

Analisis lebih lanjut mengenai persaingan gelar juara menunjukkan bahwa Arsenal masih memiliki peluang besar mengingat selisih gol akan sangat menentukan di akhir musim.

"I did not think Arsenal's defeat at Manchester City last week spelled the end of their title hopes and watching City struggle to put Burnley away on Wednesday must have been a boost for their players. I know the result still knocked the Gunners off the top of the table but that was not the kind of performance that suggested Pep Guardiola's side are just going to march to the title from here. However you want to view Arsenal's recent form, they know they are still in the race - especially because goal difference could decide the title." ungkap mantan striker Crystal Palace, komentator BBC Radio 5 Live.

Komentator tersebut menambahkan bahwa momentum saat ini sangat krusial bagi skuad asuhan Mikel Arteta dalam menghadapi sisa laga musim ini.

"I've been in this situation myself in a title race and, while I am sure both managers will say that it is just about making sure they win their own games, you cannot ignore the fact that the season starts now and goal difference could be important. That's why, if I was an Arsenal player sat at home watching City against Burnley, I would have been thinking that 1-0 is OK for us. They are level now, on points and goal difference, and the Gunners still have Burnley to play, but at home. So, it is there for them, but they have to get past this game first. Newcastle have given Arsenal a good game when they've met in recent seasons and there has been a bit of needle between the two sides. Right now, though, Eddie Howe's side have a few injury problems on top of their dismal form. They have dropped off their usual level and they look a bit flimsy to me. It feels like a good time to play them and I don't think this will be as close." jelas mantan striker Crystal Palace, komentator BBC Radio 5 Live.

Di tempat lain, manajer Liverpool Arne Slot memberikan tanggapannya kepada Sky Sports setelah pertandingan timnya yang berlangsung ketat.

"We've played many games this season where we deserved more than we got. It was equal and it could've ended differently. We kept fighting and were able to score another goal." kata Arne Slot, Manajer Liverpool.

Slot juga memberikan pujian khusus kepada beberapa pemainnya yang tampil impresif termasuk pencapaian gol Alex di Anfield.

"A great goal from Florian, work rate, we created our own luck as well. Freddie had an unbelievable game, made a lot of aves. Alex scored his first at Anfield this season, which you can hardly believe. That tells you how much bad luck he has had." tutur Arne Slot, Manajer Liverpool.

Manajer asal Belanda tersebut menegaskan bahwa fokus utama timnya adalah memenangkan setiap pertandingan yang tersisa tanpa terlalu memikirkan selisih gol.

"We need to win our games and that's the main aim. You want to win by as much margin as you can. It wasn't about the goal difference today; it was about getting the game over the line. It was a very tight and close match." ujar Arne Slot, Manajer Liverpool.

Terkait kondisi Mohamed Salah yang mengalami cedera, Slot mengakui adanya kekhawatiran mengenai kemungkinan sang pemain telah menjalani laga terakhirnya.

"My honest answer is yes, the way he came off. It went through his mind because there are only a few weeks to go but we are hoping he plays for us again. You have tests to do and then we have to wait for the prognosis." jelas Arne Slot, Manajer Liverpool.

Mengenai insiden gol Crystal Palace, Slot sempat terlibat perdebatan dengan manajer Oliver Glasner di pinggir lapangan terkait pelanggaran yang tidak ditiup wasit.

"We spoke with Glasner on the pitch. Robbo could make sense with what he said but have you ever seen a player from that position play such a slow ball into the goal? Maybe it's 50-50. The number of times I've seen referees stopping the game for fouls that aren't fouls and referees buy into it. When my player is injured, they don't stop the game. Mac Allister needed five stitches at home to Man Utd. Conor Bradley was being pushed off the pitch." keluh Arne Slot, Manajer Liverpool.

Ia juga menanggapi adanya protes dari penggemar dengan menegaskan pentingnya dukungan kolektif untuk klub.

"In football, there are always disagreements and everyone has the best interests of the club. The owners and the fans do. What is more important to me is that afterwards, we got the support and we did last week against Fulham. Disagreements will always be there as they are now." kata Arne Slot, Manajer Liverpool.

Sementara itu, pemain Tottenham Hotspur Joao Palhinha mengungkapkan kegembiraannya kepada BBC Sport setelah kemenangan timnya yang sangat berarti.

"Antonin Kinsky saved us the victory with this last save." kata Joao Palhinha, Gelandang Tottenham Hotspur.

Palhinha menyebutkan bahwa kemenangan ini merupakan buah dari kerja keras dan mentalitas yang terus dijaga oleh seluruh anggota tim.

"This team has deserved the three points for such a long time. It’s not been easy. It means a lot, much more than the three points." ujar Joao Palhinha, Gelandang Tottenham Hotspur.

Pemain asal Portugal tersebut menekankan pentingnya fokus pada masa kini untuk mencapai target klub di akhir musim.

"I think the pressure, you cannot control. It’s about mentality. Focus on what we can control, not thinking bad thoughts. Focus on the present." tambah Joao Palhinha, Gelandang Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham saat ini berupaya menjauh dari zona degradasi dan Palhinha meyakini performa positif akan menyelamatkan mereka.

"We know if we are on the right form in the present we will achieve our goal – to keep Tottenham in the Premier League." pungkas Joao Palhinha, Gelandang Tottenham Hotspur.