Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that his team will give Premier League champions Liverpool a guard of honour ahead of their match at Anfield on Sunday. This tradition will be upheld as a sign of respect, as initially reported by Mirror Football earlier in the week.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk described the gesture as a meaningful sign of appreciation and said the team anticipated such recognition in their final three games. Despite Arsenal being Liverpool’s main title challengers for much of the season, Arteta held no resentment.
Although Arteta recently commented that Arsenal might have claimed the title if they had matched their previous points totals, he was quick to praise Liverpool’s achievement under manager Arne Slot.
“They’ve absolutely earned it,” Arteta said. “They’ve been the top team and most consistent. What Arne and his staff have done is impressive – they completely deserve it.”
He also suggested the tribute could serve as extra motivation for Arsenal players next season, witnessing their rivals celebrate the title.
“I’ve reviewed the stats – we had the best figures and goal difference in the semi-final – but it’s not just about stats or potential, it’s about delivering results when it counts,” Arteta explained. “When you examine the key performance indicators for winning games, it’s obvious who came out on top
