Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal will give Liverpool a guard of honour as he hailed the ‘fascinating’ job Arne Slot has done at Anfield this season.
The Reds won the Premier League title with four matches remaining last month.
The Premier League champions were applauded onto the pitch by Chelsea last weekend[/caption]
Slot’s side welcome the Gunners to Anfield on Sunday after streaking clear of their title rivals.
The Gunners will now give the champions a guard of honour as they enter the pitch, just as they did in the latter stages of the 2019/20 campaign.
Asked about the pre-match routine, he told reporters: “They deserve that.
“They’ve been the best team, they’ve been the most consistent, what Arne [Slot] and the coaching staff have done has been fascinating, it’s been really good and they fully deserve it.
“And that’s the sport, when somebody is better you have to applaud and accept and try to reach that level.”
Liverpool previously received a guard of honour before their clash with Chelsea last weekend.
The Blues went on to secure a 3-1 victory over the visitors at Stamford Bridge.
Arteta was also asked if his side can use the guard of honour for motivation on Sunday.
In response, the Spaniard added: “Yes, something that has to drive you, motivate you, and pain probably is a good one to use sometimes when you don’t really want to do something but it’s the right thing to do, usually as a motivation for next season.”
The Gunners boss refused to be drawn on the idea of sending a message ahead of next season’s title race, though.
Slot has been hailed for the ‘fascinating’ job he has done by the Arsenal boss[/caption]
He explained: “It’s about this season, it’s about the amount of points we need to finish in the position that we want and we have to end that.”
Arsenal are currently second with just three matches remaining, but are yet to confirm their place in next season’s Champions League.
Qualification could be secured this weekend, though, if they win and other results go their way.
Looking ahead to next season’s title race, Arteta was asked if Liverpool will be the team to beat, admitting: “They will hold that trophy and somebody has to come and take it out of their hands.
“I’m sure that we’re going to have a lot of contenders and very well-prepared contenders to raise their level again and make it very difficult.”
The trip to Merseyside will be Arsenal’s first match since they were eliminated from the Champions League.
Arteta’s side were beaten 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain.
Following Wednesday’s second leg, he claimed the Gunners had been the best team in this season’s competition.
The 43-year-old doubled down on those comments during his pre-match press conference, stating: “100 per cent. I’m watching it back, I’m watching all the stats.
“Obviously we have the best stats and the best goal difference in the semi-final, so it’s very clear. But it’s not about the winning probability or what you’ve managed, it’s actually making it happen and making it count.
“When you look at the important stats that normally give you the best platform to win football matches, it’s crystal clear who was better.”
Arsenal beat PSV and Real Madrid during the knockout phase before their defeat to the French champions.
