Arsenal travel to Anfield to face newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday – and Mikel Arteta has given his thoughts on his players giving their rivals a guard of honour
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal will give Liverpool a guard of honour – and insists they fully deserve it. Mirror Football reported last Monday that Arsenal were expected to observe the pre-match ritual at Anfield before their meeting on Sunday.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said it was a “mark of respect” and they fully expected it to happen before their remaining three games. There were no sour grapes from Arteta, who has led Arsenal to be Liverpool’s closest challengers for much of the season.
Arteta had riled some Liverpool fans by claiming this week that Arsenal might have been champions if they had won as many points this time as they had in the previous two years. But the Gunners boss says the pre-match tribute is fully deserved for Liverpool boss Arne Slot’s newly-crowned champions.
Arteta said: “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.
READ MORE: Alan Shearer makes Mikel Arteta sack claim as he tells Gunners bosses what must happenREAD MORE: Arne Slot drops three major hints on what Liverpool are looking for in transfer window
“And that’s the sport, when somebody is better you have to applaud and accept and try to reach that level.”
Arteta admitted that the guard of honour could even be a motivation for his players for next season as they watch their rivals lap up the glory of lifting the title.
Arteta said: “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.”
Arteta also insisted he stood by his post-match comments after the Paris Saint Germain game that Arsenal had been the best team in the Champions League despite their semi final exit.
Arteta added: “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.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
