Use pain from guard of honour for gain: Arteta

Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to use the frustration of having to give champions Liverpool a guard of honour on May 11 as fuel to win the English Premier League title next season, after admitting they have gone "backwards" this term.

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LONDON - Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to use the frustration of having to give champions Liverpool a guard of honour on May 11 as fuel to win the English Premier League title next season, after admitting they have gone "backwards" this term.

Arteta's side are destined to finish the season without a major trophy after failing to keep pace with Liverpool and crashing out of the Champions League semifinals on May 7.

The Gunners' 2-1 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg (3-1 on aggregate) ended their bid to win the tournament for the first time.

It was a painful loss for Arsenal, who created a host of chances in the early stages of the second leg but could not find a way past inspired PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Still licking their wounds from the disappointment in Paris, Arsenal head to Anfield on May 11 for the uncomfortable task of watching Liverpool's ongoing title celebrations. Arne Slot's men wrapped up the title two weeks ago, leaving second-placed Arsenal trailing in their wake.