Mikel Arteta says Arsenal must seize their moment against PSG in the Champions League final in Budapest

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his players to “own the moment” ahead of Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest.

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Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Friday, Arteta said Arsenal had a powerful opportunity to create history by winning Europe’s biggest club competition for the first time.

The North London club have never lifted the Champions League trophy and lost their only previous final appearance to Barcelona in 2006.

“It’s the opportunity to own the moment, it’s the second time in our history we are here,” Arteta said.

“We have the opportunity tomorrow to write a new chapter in the history of this football club.”

The Spanish coach called on his players to approach the final with courage, clarity and determination as they prepare to face the defending champions at the Puskas Arena.

“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,” he added.

Arsenal arrive at the final after ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title, finishing ahead of Manchester City in a breakthrough domestic campaign under Arteta.

Despite that success, the Arsenal boss insisted the squad remained hungry for more silverware and viewed the league triumph as a platform for greater achievements.

“Our ambition is bigger. We have one trophy and we want the second one,” Arteta explained.

“That has to be a platform to reach bigger destinations and to aim for more, and the team is capable.”

Arsenal have reached the final unbeaten and with one of the strongest defensive records in the competition, conceding only six goals throughout the campaign.

Arteta said his side deserved their place in the final but stressed that the team must still prove itself on the pitch against Luis Enrique’s PSG.

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

The Arsenal manager also confirmed that defender Jurrien Timber is fit enough to start after recovering from a groin injury that had sidelined him since March.

Ben White remains the only unavailable player for the Gunners.

England winger Bukayo Saka, who recently returned from injury, said Arsenal did not need additional motivation heading into the final despite last season’s semi-final defeat to PSG.

“We have enough fire going into the game tomorrow,” Saka said.

“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.”

Club captain Martin Odegaard echoed the growing belief within the squad, saying last season’s Premier League success had strengthened the team’s winning mentality.

“When you get the taste of winning and lifting a trophy, you know how nice it feels,” the Norwegian midfielder said.

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“So we want to make even more history.”