Liverpool are set to welcome Arsenal to Anfield this weekend in their first home fixture since being officially crowned Premier League champions.
Arne Slot’s side clinched the title two weeks ago with an emphatic 5-1 win over Tottenham, opening up a 15-point lead over second-placed Arsenal and sealing the crown in dominant fashion.
As is tradition, newly crowned champions are honoured with a guard of honour from the opposition in their remaining fixtures. However, the gesture has sparked plenty of debate this season.
Ahead of last weekend’s clash with Chelsea, Enzo Maresca confirmed his side would uphold the tradition — and they did.
Now, it appears Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal could be next in line to honour Liverpool with the same gesture at Anfield on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta on Arsenal giving Liverpool a guard of honour
The Arsenal manager has not been the greatest sport after defeats in recent games.
Arteta embarrassed himself with his comments after the defeat to PSG on Wednesday night. He also tried to undermine Liverpool’s title win earlier this week.
However, Arteta struck a more respectful tone today, congratulating Liverpool on their Premier League win and confirming that Arsenal will give the newly crowned champions a well-deserved guard of honour even if it pains them.
Speaking to the media ahead of the game at Anfield this Sunday, Arteta said: “Something has to drive you, motivate you. The pain probably is a good one to use sometimes, you know, when you don’t really want to do something but it is the right thing to do as a motivation for next season.
“We will give Liverpool a guard of honour. They deserve it. They have been the better team, they have been the most consistent”.
“That is the sport, when somebody is better then you have to applaud and accept and try to reach that level”.
What happened the last time Arsenal gave Liverpool the guard of honour
Perhaps Arsenal giving the Reds a guard of honour isn’t the worst thing after all.
The last time Liverpool won the league was in 2019, ending a 30-year wait for a top-flight title by clinching the Premier League with seven games to spare.
One of those games saw Arsenal host the newly crowned champions at the Emirates. After giving them the guard of honour, the Gunners beat them 2-1.
Supporters will be hoping for a similar outcome this time around, especially with Liverpool now having nothing left to play for.
Liverpool fell to just their third defeat of the season last week, with Cole Palmer delivering a special performance to inspire Chelsea to victory.
The Reds looked miles off their usual intensity, possibly still feeling the after-effects of their title celebrations.
Arne Slot will want to bring the focus back, but Arsenal couldn’t ask for a better time to face the champions as they fight to lock down second place.
