Liverpool is on the brink of winning the Premier League title. However, despite the title being decided, the headlines in the Premier League are not over. There are rumors about whether Arsenal will give them the guard of honor when they travel to Anfield for the Premier League game. This is something that previously elected champions have been given.
In the 2012-13 season, Arsenal gave Manchester United the guard of honor. It drew controversy as one of the players was Robin Van Persie, the former Gunners striker. Last season, the Premier League title went down to the wire. Hence, the Guard of Honor concept wasn’t in place in the 2023-24 season.
What Has Brendan Rodgers Said About It?
Former Liverpool Manager Brendan Rodgers credited Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson for giving Chelsea the guard of honor at the end of the 2004-05 season. Chelsea became the English champions for the second time in their history. It was also the first Premier League title under Jose Mourinho. Old Trafford was seen giving rousing applause to the newly crowned English champions.
“I can never forget when I was at Chelsea as a young coach and, in that first season that Jose was in, they won the title. I remember going to Old Trafford to watch the game that evening, and I’m sure the Man United players didn’t want to do it, but I’m sure Fergie insisted they did it.” Brendan Rodgers said, as reported by GOAL.
“That must have been really, really difficult, but it showed you the class of Sir Alex and it showed you the humility of him that another competitor came in and took the title, but it was also sporting that they did that, but also can provide you with great motivation going forward,” Rodgers added.
The current Celtic manager believes that Arsenal should be humble, and this would show their humility. Moreover, it will give them the ambition to go for the Premier League title next season. The Gunners will finish second in the Premier League for the third consecutive season. In the last two seasons, they finished runners-up to Manchester City.
What’s At Stake For Arsenal?
Arsenal doesn’t have much to play for in the Premier League, as Liverpool need just one point in their next match to secure a record-equaling 20th league title. The Reds play Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, with history on the line. However, they need to work to secure their runners-up position in the table.
However, their big aim is the UEFA Champions League. The Gunners are currently in the semifinals for the first time since 2009 after smashing Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate. They will play Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the last four. Both teams have never won the Champions League in their history, but have lost a final each. In the other semifinal, Barcelona are playing Inter Milan.
Final Thoughts
Arsenal’s decision to give Liverpool the guard of honor rests in their court. Both sides of the decision will be acceptable and have a certain storyline. However, there is no denying that Mikel Arteta‘s men want the league title desperately, and they will do everything to achieve that. For now, they have a bigger task. The UEFA Champions League.
