'We have won one, now we want the second one': Mikel Arteta eyes Champions League glory

HUNGARY FOR MORE: Mikel Arteta declared Arsenal are ready to take the Champions League trophy away from holders Paris Saint-Germain. Pic: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire.

Mikel Arteta declared Arsenal are ready to take the Champions League trophy away from holders Paris Saint-Germain as his side prepare for the biggest match in the club's modern history.

Twenty years after Arsenal lost their only previous Champions League final against Barcelona in Paris, the newly crowned Premier League champions have a second chance to become kings of Europe when they face PSG in Budapest on Saturday night.

For Arteta, the occasion carries extra significance. The Arsenal manager's first opportunity in elite football came with PSG after leaving Barcelona's famed La Masia academy as a teenager. Now he stands one match away from delivering the one trophy Arsenal have never won.

"We are here because we have earned the right to be here and are ready to compete for the trophy," said Arteta.

"PSG are champions and here to defend their trophy and we are here to take it away from them."

The final comes less than a week after Arteta finally got his hands on the Premier League trophy following Arsenal's first title success in 22 years.

Yet the manager dismissed suggestions the pressure has eased.

"No," he said. "The ambition is bigger. We have won one and now we want the second one and keep aiming for more."

Arteta also delivered a significant injury boost by confirming defender Jurrien Timber is available despite recent fitness concerns.

One of Arsenal's players of the season, Timber has returned to training at exactly the right moment.

"Yeah, he's fit," said Arteta.

Asked if he was fit enough to start, the Arsenal manager replied simply: "Yes."

Noni Madueke is also available, with Ben White the only member of the squad unavailable.

Arteta now faces several fascinating selection dilemmas. Does he immediately restore Timber to the starting line-up? Does teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly continue in midfield or does Martin Zubimendi's experience get the nod? Does Kai Havertz's experience of winning a Champions League final outweigh Viktor Gyokeres' goalscoring threat?

For now, Arteta is keeping his cards close to his chest.

"I look around and I see the joy, the desire they all have to play this game," he said.

"It is the biggest game in football, and everyone wants to be part of that."

Earlier, Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Odegaard faced hundreds of journalists inside the Puskas Arena before Arsenal trained to replicate match conditions.

Saka revealed Arsenal legend Thierry Henry had already been in contact ahead of the final.

"He messaged me earlier," said Saka.

"It has been a consistent theme in the good and bad moments. I have a lot of love for him.

"He said he would be here for the match and look to find me, so I am looking forward to catching up and hearing what he has to say."

Saka insisted he is not burdened by the pressure of trying to help Arsenal win their first European Cup.

"I don't think about it too much, that's my thing," he said.

"Focus on the moment, enjoy it, leave it in God's hands. I know exactly what this means to us as a club and our fans."

Odegaard admitted Saturday's final is the fulfilment of childhood dreams.

"When I was playing football with my friends at the little pitch outside my house, I was dreaming of this moment," said the Arsenal captain.

Paris Saint Germain manager Luis Enrique and assistant manager Rafel Pol during a training session at the Puskas Arena, Budapest. Pic: : Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

Across the corridor, PSG coach Luis Enrique struck a relaxed tone despite attempting to become only the second manager to win consecutive Champions League titles with different clubs.

The Spaniard laughed off criticism of French football following last season's triumph.

"The league of farmers, no?" he joked last season. "We are the league of farmers."

On Friday night, Enrique also rejected suggestions Arsenal are outsiders despite PSG being widely regarded as favourites.

"No, I am not surprised, especially with what he has done this year," he said of Arteta.

"They are worthy of winning the Premier League, the best team in the league. It was not easy with Man City on their tails."

Enrique believes the contest has been oversimplified as Europe's best attack against Europe's best defence.

"I would say two ideas that are the same, that look like one another but are different," he said.

"They are also a high-scoring team and we defend well.

"We are looking to get to the same destination but have taken different routes."

He also warned PSG are fully prepared for Arsenal's renowned set-piece threat.

"The devil is in the details," he said.

"We know what their strengths are and how difficult it is to come up against them."

Now, after months of anticipation, Arsenal stand 90 minutes from making history.

Twenty years after heartbreak in Paris, Arteta's champions have the opportunity to complete the greatest week in the club's history in Budapest.