Arteta: Arsenal Must ‘Earn Right’ to Lift Champions League Trophy Against PSG

Arteta eyes history with Arsenal in Champions League final 20 years on 

Arsenal face PSG in the UCL final with Arteta urging his side to seize the moment. The Gunners boss confirms Timber is ready to start as he chases a first European crown. 

Arteta wants Arsenal to ‘write new chapter’ and confirms Timber ready for UCL final...

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have earned their spot on the biggest stage in Europe, but now it’s time to grab the opportunity and create history. Speaking before the Champions League final vs PSG, the Gunners boss highlighted how hungry his squad is for more.

Arteta feels the build-up has gone well. “We're focused, positive. We are here because we have the right to be here. Tomorrow on the field, we’re going to have to earn the right to lift the trophy,” he said.

Arsenal should have nearly a full squad to pick from. Arteta confirmed Jurrien Timber and Noni Madueke are both available, with Ben White the only player missing for the final.

Arteta ended Arsenal’s 22-year wait for a Premier League title, and now he has the opportunity to deliver their first Champions League crown - two decades on from their last final appearance.

“We have the opportunity to write a new chapter, we have to play with a lot of clarity and desire to win. Winning the Champions League would be something new for all of us. It’s tough to write new history at Arsenal, and that’s what we’re aiming for,” Arteta said.

Arsenal finally shook off the second-place curse in the league, so you’d think they could relax a bit. But Arteta says the pressure never really goes away.

“We have won a title, but we want to win more. There always has to be a platform to earn more. I want the players to be confident we can go and do it,” he claimed.

“They want more. After you lift the trophy, you want to reproduce that feeling as many times as possible.”

Arsenal came up short against PSG in last season’s semi-final, but Arteta still found positives to take from both legs.

“When I watch the games back, I was very pleased with what I saw. We were close, unlucky not to go into that final. Tomorrow we’ll play a different game I’m sure,” the Spaniard insisted. 

“PSG and us both evolved in a different way. We took some learning and will have to apply it tomorrow.”

“He’s always been a reference for me, since he was a player. In PSG, you can see his fingerprints, the identity, the mentality, the way the players behave. He’s been an inspiration, but tomorrow we will clash on the touchline,” Arteta said with a smile.

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Talking about the opposition, Arteta couldn’t skip past Luis Enrique. The two go way back to their days playing together at Barcelona 25 years ago.