Mikel Arteta Confirms Arsenal Will Give Liverpool Guard of Honour: "They Deserve It"

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that his team will give Liverpool a guard of honour when they face them at Anfield on Sunday.

Arteta praised Liverpool's consistent performance and the impressive job Arne Slot has done as manager, stating that Liverpool fully deserves the accolade. Reflecting on the significance of the gesture, Arteta encouraged using it as motivation for his players, especially following their recent Champions League semi-final exit to Paris Saint-Germain. 

Despite Arsenal's elimination from the Champions League, Arteta reaffirmed his belief that his team was the best in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, supporting his claim with statistical analysis. He described the loss as both one of the saddest and proudest moments of his managerial tenure due to the team's effort. 

Domestically, however, Arsenal has seen a decline, standing 15 points behind Premier League champions Liverpool with 67 points and just ahead of Manchester City, Newcastle, and Chelsea in a tight race for top positions.