Arsenal: Mikel Arteta confirms Liverpool will receive guard of honour ahead of Anfield showdown
Arsenal will give Premier League champions Liverpool a guard of honour when the two sides meet at Anfield on Sunday, Mikel Arteta has confirmed.
Clubs are under no obligation to give a guard of honour as there is nothing in the Premier League regulations that requires them to do so.
But the gesture has become a tradition over the years and Liverpool received a guard of honour from Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
The Gunners have previously given Liverpool a guard of honour. This was back at the end of the 2019-20 season under Arteta.
And the Spaniard has confirmed the north London side will do so again when they face the newly-crowned champions of England.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, 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. And that's the sport, when somebody is better you have to applaud and accept and try to reach that level.'
Arsenal had been competing with Liverpool for the title but have faded in recent weeks and are now in danger of finishing outside the top two after losing at home to Bournemouth last weekend.
The Gunners face Liverpool on Sunday, before playing their final home game of the campaign against Newcastle next weekend and then round off the season away at already relegated Southampton on May 25.
It is almost certain Arsenal will need at least one victory to ensure Champions League qualification, whilst a top-two finish depends on matching or bettering Manchester City's results.
Arteta has urged his side to finish the season strongly and believes the pain of giving Liverpool a guard of honour will motivate them.
'Something has to drive you, motivate you, and pain probably is a good one to use sometimes,' said Arteta.
'When you don't really want to do something but it's the right thing to do, use it as a motivation for next season.'
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