Mikel Arteta tells Arsenal to seize Champions League final chance against PSG

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to take command of their Champions League final opportunity when they face defending champions Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.

Arsenal are still seeking their first title in Europe’s top club competition. Their only previous appearance in the final ended in defeat to Barcelona two decades ago.

Arteta said in Budapest that he believes his players are capable of changing that record against Luis Enrique’s PSG.

“It’s the opportunity to own the moment, it’s the second time in our history we are here,” the Spanish coach told reporters on Friday. “We have the opportunity tomorrow to write a new chapter in the history of this football club.

“We have to play tomorrow with such a clarity, a lot of courage and a relentless desire to win. If we have those three aspects, I’m sure we are going to be close to winning.”

Arsenal recently ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title by finishing ahead of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Arteta said he is not concerned that his squad will treat that achievement as the end point, insisting it must instead push them towards further honours, beginning at the Puskas Arena.

“[Our] ambition is bigger. We have one [trophy] and we want the second one,” explained Arteta. “That’s all we have been talking about — that has to be a platform to reach bigger destinations and to aim for more, and the team is capable… I want the players to be so confident that we’re gonna go and do it.”

Arsenal reached the final without losing a match in the competition, with their defence allowing only six goals along the way. Arteta said the team had already shown why it belongs in the final, but added that it must now prove it is worthy of lifting the trophy.

“We are here because we’ve earned the right to be here, in the manner that we have performed in this competition, on that field we have to earn the right to win the trophy,” said the coach.

Arteta also confirmed that Jurrien Timber is available to start after a groin injury that had kept the right-back out since mid-March. Ben White is the only player in the squad who is unavailable.

Bukayo Saka, the England international who came through Arsenal’s academy, returned from injury a few weeks ago and is back near his strongest form after a difficult personal campaign.

Saka said Arsenal do not require added fuel from last season’s semi-final loss to PSG, because the chance to deliver the club’s first Champions League crown is motivation enough.

“We have enough fire going into the game tomorrow, we know the history of the club and we know that tomorrow we can write history as players and winning it for the first time,” said Saka.