Liverpool’s fans were in a celebratory mood on Sunday as second-placed Arsenal visited Anfield. The Gunners’ title challenge was officially ended a couple of weeks ago but, in truth, it was over months ago, and the Reds showed just why they are the best team in the country during the first half.
Arsenal had a decent chance inside the opening five minutes, when Bukayo Saka sent a shot wide from close range with just Alisson to beat, Mikel Arteta’s men were made to pay when Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz scored within two minutes of each other to put the Reds 2-0 up after 21 minutes.
Arteta wouldn’t have enjoyed what he was seeing on the pitch, and he also probably wouldn’t too big of a fan of what was going on in the stands either.
Speaking after Arsenal’s Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain last week, the Arsenal manager said that his team had been the best side in the competition.
That is not a sentiment shared by many, and Liverpool’s fans mocked the comment during the first half, chanting: “Best team in Europe, you’re having a laugh.”
Supporters also held up a banner prior to kick-off which contained a mocked-up picture of Arteta wearing a dress and holding a bouquet of flowers, alongside the words “always the bridesmaid, never the bride.”
Ahead of kick-off, Arteta and Liverpool head coach Arne Slot shared a warm embrace by the dug-out, while Arsenal’s players gave Liverpool’s players a guard of honor to acknowledge the Reds’ title success.
Speaking ahead of the game, Arteta said that he hoped his squad could use the pain of giving Liverpool a guard of honor as motivation to bounce back next season.
“They deserve that [a guard of honor],” Arteta said. “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.
“Something 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.”
