Arsenal fans are starting to worry about an unwanted scenario when their team faces Liverpool in May.
After a commanding 2-0 victory over Manchester City, Liverpool has stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League table, putting them in a strong position to clinch the title before the season’s end.
Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai sealed the win for the Reds, giving them a comfortable 11-point advantage over Arsenal, who sit in second place.
With only a few months left in the campaign, the Gunners find themselves once again in a desperate chase to keep up with the league leaders.
Fear of Another Guard of Honour
The thought of having to line up and applaud Liverpool as champions when the two sides meet on May 10 is unsettling for Arsenal supporters.
If Liverpool secures the title before that fixture at Anfield, Arsenal players would be expected to perform the traditional guard of honour—a moment no rival fanbase enjoys.
This wouldn’t be the first time the Gunners have had to do this for Liverpool.
Back in 2020, after Jurgen Klopp’s side secured their first Premier League title in 30 years, Arsenal had to honor them with the same gesture before their match at the Emirates.
The idea of history repeating itself has left Arsenal fans frustrated, with some already venting their disappointment online.
Fans React as Liverpool Supporters Enjoy the Banter
Social media has been buzzing with reactions from both Arsenal and Liverpool supporters.
One Arsenal fan summed up the mood with a GIF of a disappointed man, captioning it: “We might have to give Liverpool a guard of honour.”
Another joked, “We’re gonna give Liverpool a guard of honour after finishing second three seasons in a row.”
Liverpool fans, on the other hand, have taken pleasure in the situation, with one posting, “Arteta already gave us a guard of honour once, and he’ll probably do it again in Gameweek 36 at Anfield—two guards of honour, zero Premier League titles.”
Another quipped, “Saka hopefully fit enough in time to give us the guard of honour.”
Gary Neville Criticizes Arsenal’s Struggles
As Arsenal fans stress over their title hopes slipping away, Gary Neville has pointed out deeper problems within the team.
Speaking on his podcast, the former Manchester United defender slammed Arsenal’s playing style, claiming their over-reliance on set-pieces has made them predictable and uninspiring.
“Arsenal have become quite rigid, quite turgid to watch at times,” Neville said.
“This obsession with set-pieces has taken over their whole game.
It’s even more noticeable with their set-piece coach standing on the touchline.”
He compared Arsenal’s struggles to the 2015-16 season when Leicester City unexpectedly won the title while traditional big clubs faltered.
Neville also acknowledged Arsenal’s injury setbacks, with key players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz missing, but insisted they should have still beaten West Ham in their recent loss.
What’s Next for Arsenal?
With Liverpool in pole position and only a handful of games left, Arsenal faces a tough battle to prevent history from repeating itself.
Their upcoming fixtures will be crucial if they want to keep their title dreams alive and avoid the dreaded guard of honour moment at Anfield.
The question now is—can Mikel Arteta’s side turn things around, or will they once again fall just short?
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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