Arteta makes Liverpool admission as Arsenal guard of honour prospect emerges

SportFootballLiverpool FCLiverpool can secure the Premier League title with victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday.Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gives an interview ahead of the English Premier League football match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park (Image: AFP )Mikel Arteta admits all Arsenal can do now is delay Liverpool’s Premier League triumph as the Reds went to within three points of the title with victory at Leicester City. Arne Slot’s side could have won the league on Sunday had the Gunners lost at Ipswich Town, but Arteta’s men secured a 4-0 win at Portman Road.The Gunners face Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening knowing they must avoid defeat to stop Liverpool winning the title. Should they do that, it means the Reds can clinch their 20th championship in front of their home crowd at Anfield with victory over Arsenal’s bitter rivals Tottenham on Sunday.And that could result in Arsenal facing the prospect of giving Liverpool a guard of honour when the two sides meet on Merseyside on May 11, and Arteta says there’s little his team can do but try to delay the Reds victory as long as possible.READ MORE: Liverpool transfer now virtually guaranteed as suitors expected for substituteREAD MORE: What Trent Alexander-Arnold did leaves no doubt over Liverpool feelings as contract decision nearsSpeaking after the win at Ipswich, he told Optus Sport: “All we can do is delay that moment and from our side earn the right to finish as high as possible.”The Gunners have finished second for two consecutive seasons and would have hoped to capitalise on Manchester City’s drop-off this term.Yet they’ve not been able to keep pace with Liverpool throughout the campaign, with Slot’s team remaining top since they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 at the start of November and Arsenal not finishing any gameweek at the summit.Arsenal may now have to give Liverpool a guard of honour, a prospect some may find humiliating yet is agreed upon by teams after the champions are crowned. There are no rules dictating that sides must do it, but instead it is a tradition to show respect to the title winners.In 2020, Manchester City attacker Bernardo Silva was seen refusing to clap Liverpool onto the pitch as Pep Guardiola’s side gave the Reds a guard of honour after the title triumph was confirmed.Liverpool meet Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on May 4 before Arsenal travel to Anfield a week later. A trip to Brighton follows before the Reds round the season off with a home match against Crystal Palace, after which they would lift the Premier League trophy.