Tuesday, 30th April, 2013
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta believes Manchester United deserved to receive a guard of honour during the two sides’ fiery match at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.
The Gunners applauded their opponents as Manchester United entered the pitch. The Red Devils had won their 20th top flight title beforehand, defeating Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa 3-0 at Old Trafford on Monday of last week.
But all of the gracious smiles and constrained salutations quickly disappeared as the match began. The clash of the long-time rivals soon hit high gear, with winger Theo Walcott blazing past left-back Patrice Evra to score the opening goal in under two minutes.
However, it would be prodigal son Robin van Persie who would prove to erase the delight of the Emirates Stadium faithful, scoring with authority a penalty just before half-time. With chances unfinished by both sides, the scoreline remained 1-1 at the end of the full 90 minutes.
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“They deserved it [the guard of honour]", Arteta told Arsenal’s official site.
"They won the league with four games to go so they deserved the clapping. When someone does the job you have to congratulate them. This is the respectful thing to do."
Despite this, Arteta does not want to be the one clapping forever, saying, “You want to be in that situation [where you] walk on the pitch and the other teams show respect because you are the winners. Hopefully, along with our young players, we will have the chance to do it."
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