Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal's 'guard of honour' decision for Liverpool game | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta confirmed that his Arsenal side will give Liverpool a 'guard of honour' when the two sides meet at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

In their first game after being official confirmed as Premier League champions, Liverpool were applauded onto the pitch by two lines of Chelsea players at Stamford Bridge last weekend. This ceremonial act has been a tradition in English football since the 1950s, but isn't always carried out beyond that initial match of recognition.

However, Arteta admitted this week that Arne Slot's side "deserved" to be applauded for their achievement in their first home game as top-flight champions.

"They've been the better team, the most consistent," the Arsenal boss conceded after losing out in another title race for the third season in succession. "What Arne and the coaching staff has done is fascinating, it's been really good. That's sport. Someone is better, you have to applaud and accept and try to reach that level."

Arsenal were narrowly pipped by Manchester City to the Premier League crown in each of the past two seasons despite winning more than 80 points. "We are there. With the amount of points we generated over the last few seasons, we could have two Premier Leagues," Arteta sighed.

"We're not close, we are there. We are providing the numbers that win you titles. We have to be a little bit luckier, do better and hope nobody does better than you."

The club's waning domestic form - Arsenal's tally of six points from their previous five games is bettered by eight different clubs - has been diluted by their run to the Champions League semi-finals. Yet, after suffering a frustrating elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, focus shifts towards the final three league games of a campaign which can still end in disaster: Arsenal are not guaranteed qualification for next season's Champions League.

"We went out [of the Champions League] very proud and we have to make sure we finish strongly," Arteta warned.

"We cannot win the Premier League, but with three games to go, we have to make ourselves proud and compete in the end in the manner we deserve."