Mikel Arteta shrugs off Arsenal 'pressure' suggestion with clear Champions League final message | OneFootball

Gunners could clinch a maiden European crown on Saturday

Mikel Arteta dismissed the idea that the pressure is off Arsenal in the Champions League final, insisting his players are more ambitious than ever.

The Gunners take on Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday night when they have the opportunity to be crowned European champions for the first time in the club's history.

It comes six days on from the north Londoners lifting the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park, finally getting over the line after three years of near misses.

"No, the ambition is bigger," Arteta said.

"We have won and we want the second one. That's what we've been talking about.

"That has to be a platform to reach bigger destinations and to aim for. The team is capable and it has shown it in the last three seasons in this competition, what we have done this season in this competition.

Final prep: Arsenal

PA

Arsenal returned to training on Tuesday after they were given a day off following the celebrations at Selhurst Park.

They then flew to Budapest on Thursday to step up their preparations for the biggest match in club football and Arteta is in no doubt over the motivation of his squad.

Arsenal have only once before played in the Champions League final, 20 years ago when they were beaten by Barcelona.

"They want more," Arteta said of his players.

"Going through those moments brings you a different kind of desire because you lift it, you know exactly how it feels and you want to reproduce that feeling as many times as possible.

"It's the second time in our history that we're here and we have the opportunity tomorrow to write a new chapter in the history of this football club."

PSG lifted the Champions League for the first time themselves last season, thrashing Inter Milan 5-0.

Luis Enrique's side beat Arsenal in the semi-finals on their way to doing so and they are favourites to defend their crowd in Budapest.

Asked whether he agreed with his side being underdogs, Arteta responded: "They are defending the trophy.

"They are the last ones that earned the right to lift that trophy and they are actually the champions. We are here to take that away from them."