Adedokun Waliyu 
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his players to “own the moment” ahead of Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Arsenal have never won the Champions League trophy and lost their only previous final appearance to Barcelona 20 years ago.
Arteta said he believes his team can make history by defeating the defending champions in Budapest.
“It’s the opportunity to own the moment, it’s the second time in our history we are here,” Arteta told reporters.
“We have the opportunity tomorrow to write a new chapter in the history of this football club.
“We have to play tomorrow with such 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 after finishing ahead of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Arteta said the club’s ambition goes beyond winning one trophy and that the team wants more success.
“Our ambition is bigger. We have one (trophy) and we want the second one,” he said.
“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 going to go and do it.”
Arsenal reached the Champions League final unbeaten and conceded only six goals throughout the competition.
Arteta said his team deserved to be in the final but must still prove themselves on the pitch.
“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 coach also confirmed that defender Jurrien Timber is fit to start after recovering from a groin injury that kept him out since mid-March. Ben White is the only unavailable player in the squad.
England winger Bukayo Saka, who recently returned from injury, said Arsenal players are highly motivated and focused on making history.
“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 win it for the first time,” Saka said.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard also spoke about the team’s hunger for success after winning the Premier League title.
“It was 22 years since we last won the Premier League and now finally we did it,” Odegaard said.
“So we want to make even more history and when you get the taste of winning and lifting a trophy, you know how nice it feels.”
