Arsenal to Honor Champions Liverpool at Anfield Clash

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed his team will give newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool a guard of honor when they meet at Anfield on Sunday. The Gunners boss praised Liverpool’s consistency throughout the season as Arsenal look to secure second place.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Ahead of Arsenal’s visit to Anfield this weekend, Arteta has shown respect for Arne Slot’s Liverpool team, who have already secured the Premier League title. “We will give Liverpool a guard of honor. They deserve it. They have been the better team, they have been the most consistent,” Arteta stated during his pre-match press conference.

The Arsenal manager acknowledged the sporting values behind the gesture, adding: “That is the sport, when somebody is better then you have to applaud and accept and try to reach that level.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Arsenal’s season has been a mixed bag compared to their previous campaigns under Arteta. While they improved in Europe, the Spanish manager admitted they’ve taken “a step backwards” in the Premier League. With three games remaining, Arsenal have accumulated just 67 points – well short of their 89-point tally from last season and 84 points from 2022/23.

Despite this regression, Arsenal still hold a three-point cushion over Manchester City in the race for second place. The Gunners will be looking to bounce back from their Champions League defeat to PSG in midweek when they face Liverpool.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Sunday’s match at Anfield represents more than just a formality for Arsenal. Arteta wants his team to use the guard of honor as motivation for next season’s title challenge. The Gunners are hoping to secure second place for the third consecutive season, though Manchester City could close the gap if Arsenal slip up against the champions.

After Liverpool, Arsenal still have two more Premier League fixtures to secure their runner-up position. Arteta believes his team is capable of winning titles, stating: “With the amount of points we generated over the last few seasons, we could have two Premier Leagues. We’re not close, we are there.”