Troy Deeney has urged Arsenal not to provide a guard of honour when they face Liverpool on May 11. With Manchester City struggling this season, many believed the Gunners were on the verge of ending their 20-year Premier League title drought – only for Arne Slot’s debut to leave Mikel Arteta facing a third straight runner-up finish as the Reds won their 20th English league title.
Injuries have undoubtedly hampered the north Londoners’ attempts to keep pace with their rivals this season. However, given the circumstances, finishing second and making it to the Champions League semi-finals may have exceeded expectations. What really adds insult to injury is that they will now be expected to stand together and applaud Liverpool when they visit Anfield next Sunday.
It wouldn’t be the first time the Gunners had to do this; after all, seven teams paid their respects to the Reds during their previous title-winning season five years ago.
However, for whatever reason, new debate has erupted this season over whether the guard of honour is now a tradition that is no longer necessary, with some questioning whether the practice should be discontinued entirely.
Deeney Tells Arsenal To Refuse Giving Liverpool Guard of Honour
The former Watford striker believes it’s too humiliating
The concept of showing respect through a guard of honour is so deeply ingrained that any opposition to the tradition will almost certainly make Arsenal a target of widespread criticism.
However, following Peter Crouch and Rio Ferdinand’s condemnation of the ’embarrassing’ gesture on TNT Sports (see the video below), Deeney has weighed in, urging the Gunners to take steps to end the practice.
“Chelsea will present Liverpool with a ‘guard of honour’ before tomorrow’s Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. “And next weekend, presumably, Arsenal will do the same,” he told The Sun.
“But like so many other things in modern football, it’s something I will never understand. Frankly, I think it’s a load of old b*****ks. It’s not so much a mark of respect as a humiliation for the team lining up to give the champions a little clap.
“It’s as if Chelsea and Arsenal and everyone who plays the champs for the rest of the season, is saying, ‘Well done, we’re perfectly happy you beat us’.”
He went on: “When my Watford team lost an FA Cup final to Manchester City, we had to stand and clap while they received their medals. But that comes after the match, which is understandable. I was never expected to be a member of a ‘guard of honour’.
“During my time in the Premier League, Watford never faced a team that had already been declared champions. But if I’d been in that situation, I would have refused outright.
That is what Arsenal, Liverpool’s closest rivals this season, should do next Sunday. That would really set the tone for next season. “No more Mr. Nice Guys.”
Bernardo Silva is one of the few players in recent memory who has openly refused to show full respect to newly crowned Premier League champions, famously sipping his coffee rather than applauding during Liverpool’s last title celebration. The backlash he received (and continues to face) may have prompted Arsenal to reconsider following Deeney’s advice.
